Tuesday 30 September 2014

Meeting between the Secretary Pension and JCM National Council Staff Side

                           
MEETING WITH SECRETRY PENSION

A meeting between the Pension Secretary and the Staff Side Members of National Council JCM was held on issues related to Pensioners on 25-09-2014


            The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Pension) at Lok     Nayak Bhawan, on 25.9.2014. On behalf of the Staff Side, the following comrades      attended. 

 Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra. General Secretary, AIRF.
 Com. Rakal Dasgupta. President, AIRF.
 Com. S.K. Vyas, Advisor, Confederation of CGE and Workers.
 Com. KKN. Kutty. President, Confederation of CGE and Workers.
Com. Srikumar, General Secretary, All India Defence Employees Federation.

After the introduction of the members of both official and staff side, the Action taken Statement placed by the official Side of the meeting held on 4.2.2014 was taken up for discussion. 

1.      Abnormal delay in the issue of revised PPO to Pre 2006 pensioners/family pensioners.  It was reported that about 26000 PPO of pre 1990 and 10,000 cases of pre-2006 retirees are still awaiting the issuance of revised PPO.  It was reported that the main reason for the delay is the non availability of records in the case of pensioners.   The Staff side demanded the supply of Department wise break up of the figures to enable them to take up the issue with the concerned department.  This was agreed to.   The Staff side further stated that the issue should not be viewed from the statistics angle  and the official side must appreciate that in the case of pre 1990 cases,  the pension remains unrevised for about 20 to 25 years.  It may be that some of the retires/family pensioners might have expired during this period.   The staff side also requested the official side to appreciate the  agony and difficulties of these pensioners.   The lack of availability of records should not be taken as an excuse .  After some further discussion, it was agreed that by the end of 2014, all pending cases would be cleared.  In the case of Railways, the pendency is about 25000 and in the case of Defence the reported figure was 85,000.  It was however noted that serious efforts have been made by both the Ministries to bring down the number of pending cases drastically.

2.      Revision of commutation table.   The proposal of the official side was to refer the matter to the 7th CPC, which the Staff Side objected as unreasonable and bereft of any prupose.  The Staff Side pointed out that the 6th CPC had devised the new commutation table whereby the commutation benefit had been drastically reduced.  When there had been a reduction in the commutation benefit, the tenancy period of commutation ought to have been reduced.  The 6th CPC has gone on records to state that the period must remain  15 years  as there will have to be sufficient room for cross subsidisation.  The Staff Side pointed out that when the commutation time was fixed at 15 years long time back, the mortality rate was much higher than it was today and therefore, there had been no justification for the recommendations made by the 6th CPC.  They also pointed out that the official side in  an earlier meeting had agreed to refer the matter to an expert committee and subject their recommendation to discussion with the Staff Side.  The 6th CPC was not an expert body on this matter and they had to depend upon a professional agency.  The Staff Side for this reason objected to the Official Side proposal.  The Chairman, after due consideration, wanted the Finance Ministry to appoint an expert committee and refer the issue to that committee to consider the demand in the light of the interest rate, morality rate, life expectancy etc. 

3.      Equitable gratuity under Rule 50 of Pension Rules. The suggestion made by the Staff Side was to change the slab system by introducing a slab upto 11 years and another upto 20 years. Taking into account the fact that the last slab system was intrdocued on the basis of the recommendations of the 5th CPC, the issue might be referred to the 7th CPC.  The Department of Pension has already referred the same to the 7th CPC and the Staff side has been assured to be supplied with a copy thereof. 

NEW ITEMS:   

(A). Increase in Family Pension.  The demand of the Staff Side was agreed to be specifically referred to the 7th CPC.

(b) Cashless and hassle- free treatment in recognised hospital.  The Official side agreed to ensure that the pensioners are not put to any difficulty in the matter by the recognised hospitals.  When the staff side pointed out that the Health Ministry had not been paying the dues to the recognised hospital and that has led to the denial of cashless facility, the Health Ministry denied the same.  The Staff side wanted the Health Ministry officials to immediately convene a meeting as the last meeting has been held more two years back.  The Health Ministry has decided to look into the matter and explore the possibility of convening such a meeting within a month’s time. 

(c) Finalisation of family pension cases within a specified period.
The official side pointed out that the procedure has been simplified and liberalised,  The Staff Side pointed out that the delay is caused more by the attitude than on any factual deficiency.   They, therefore, suggested for the introduction of a provisional family pension scheme as is the case with the pension for those who face inquiry proceedings.  They suggested the grant of 75% of the family pension immediately on receipt of application and the rest after the scrutiny of the claim.  They also asked for a time frame for finalisation of the claim in as much as the applications must be disposed of within three months. 

The meeting was concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair.

Monday 29 September 2014

7% DR TO PENSIONERS RELEASED BY MINISTRY OF PENSION & PENSIONERS WELFARE


Department of Pension & Perusloners" Welfare issued orders for 7% Dearness Relief to Central Government Pensioners vide its order No: F. No42/1O/2014-P&PW(G) Dated 29th September 2014.


All may remember that AIPRPA CHQ had sent email to the  above Ministry for release 
 of  immediate orders. To download  the full orders of DR, you may click on the 
LINK  BELOW:

Saturday 27 September 2014

MINUTES OF 25th MEETING OF SCOVA HELD ON 5th SEPTEMBER 2014



SCOVA Meeting held on 5.9.2014

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare 
issued the Minutes of the above meeting.

Issues like Discrimination against Postal  Pensioners on Medical treatment / CGHS facilities; Non-issue of revised PPO to Postal Pensioners were raised among other pending issues as well as new issues.

Full Minutes of the SCOVA Meeting can be downloaded by clicking on the LINK BELOW:


Friday 26 September 2014

ATTENTION ALL TAMILNADU COMRADES OF AIPRPA







Middle class organisations co-ordination committee

&

 Central, State Government, Public Sector Pensioners' organisations co-ordination committee

27, V V  Koil Street, Vellala Teynampet, Chennai-600086

 

Dear comrades,                                                                                                                               19.09.2014

Re: Observance of WFTU call

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) on its entering 70th year of formation has given a clarion call for observance its founding day i.e.3rd October 2014 as International Action Day on the specific slogan of "FIGHTING AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR DIGNIFIED WORK, PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR UNEMPLOYED,PERMANENT AND STABLE WORK".

In order to plan and effectively implement the call of the WFTU, a meeting was convened at BEFI office on 17.09.2014 at 4.30 pm.

Leaders from the above organisations participated.

Decisions:

As 3rd October happens to be a holiday, it has been decided to observe the Action Day on 08.10.2014,Wednesday.

 

In Chennai an evening dharna has been planned between 4pm and 7 pm.  The Confederation of Central Government Employees Federation will take the lead.

 

Dharna or demonstration to be held in the following centres.  1.Vellore 2.Salem 3.Erode 4.Coimbatore 5.Tanjore 6.Trichy 7.Dindigul 8.Madurai 9.Tirunelveli 10.Tuticorin

 

Handbills and posters are to be released for mobilisation of the members. One speaker from Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) can be invited as the theme is regarding employment.

 

Leaflet for public about the WFTU call and the demand can be distributed before the dharna/demonstration.

 

The Central, State Government, Public Sector Pensioners' organisations co-ordination committee will take lead to organise dharna/demo in the following centres : Vellore, Salem, Erode, Madurai.

 

Similarly AIIEA will take lead in Tanjore and Tirunelveli; BEFI in Coimbatore; DREU in Trichy ; TNGEA in Dindigul; BSNLEU in Tuticorin.

 

The expenses will be shared equally by all the organisations.

 

Yours faithfully,

   

(C P KRISHNAN)

    General Secretary, BEFI-TN

Wednesday 24 September 2014

AIPRPA EMAILS TO MINISTRY OF PENSION & PENSIONERS WELFARE ON DELAY IN DA ORDERS





DA Orders for grant of rise in DA from 100% to 107% to Central Government Pensioners is delayed.

AIPRPA has emailed to Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare urging for immediate release of DA Orders.

Copy of Email sent is reproduced below:


ALL INDIA POSTAL & RMS PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION
2/44, Muthial Chetty Street, Purasawalkam, Chennai - 600007 (TN)


To
Deputy Secretary(PW)
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare,
Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi - 110 003

Sir,

Sub: Delay in release of orders for DA increase from 1st July, 2014 - regarding.

The Government has approved and accordingly orders for DA increase to the level of 107% had been released by the Finance Ministry that had been circulated by several Ministries for serving employees. However, it is surprising to note that the same DA increase to Central Government Pensioners is yet to be released by the Ministry of Pension and Pensioners Welfare. The usual quickness with which the Pensioners Ministry used to circulate the orders for DA increase is absent this time. The delay is causing the senior citizens to worry. We therefore request you to intervene and cause release of the said orders immediately.

Thanking you Sir,

Yours faithfully,
K.Ragavendran
General Secretary

Monday 22 September 2014

WFTU Calls for an international Action Day - AIPRPA endorses the call








On October 3rd, 2014 the WFTU calls the trade unions in all countries to organize activities, strikes, demonstrations, rallies confronting the crucial problem of unemployment and demanding rights for the unemployed. Unemployment is an issue that can unite workers all over the world, in order to organize under the banners, the slogans and the principles of the WFTU various militant activities with the aim to mobilize the unemployed workers, to include these workers in the trade unions and promote the constant focus of the unions to work with the unemployed. The mobilizations and activities will demand permanent and stable jobs for all, the elimination of the causes that generate the unemployment, measures for the protection of the unemployed.
Our AIPRPA All India Conference held at Vellore has taken a decision to unite with Pensioners movement of the entire world which the WFTU sponsored TUI Pensioners and Senior Citizens has also undertaken. In this background the AIPRPA CHQ calls upon all our State Associations to take immediate steps to join with all middle class employees trade union organisations like the Confederation of CG Employees, All India State Government Employees Federation, Trade Union Associations in LIC, Bank, BSNL as well as other PSU organisations as well as all Pensioners Organisations belonging to Central Government, State Government, State and Central Public Sector etc to jointly observe the call given by WFTU. 
In Tamilnadu a meeting of various employees organisations like the AIIEA, BEFI, TNGEA, Confederation of CG Employees, BSNL, DREU etc as well as the Tamilnadu State Coordinating Committee of Central, State Government and Public Sector Pensioners Organisations was held on 17th September, 2014 at the Union office of Bank Employees Federation of India . The following decisions have been taken:
1. To observe the WFTU Call on 8th October instead of 3rd October as 3.10.2014 falls on a holiday and also many holidays in that week. 
2. The programme will be a three hours dharna in Chennai from 4.00 P.M to 7.00 P.M.
3. A hand bill and a wall  poster will be released on behalf of all the participating organisations.
4. The Programme will be  observed in the following 10 Centres in Tamilnadu and each centre will have an Incharge Organisation for conducting the Programme as follows:
Chennai - Confederation of CG Employees & Workers. (Confederation)
Coimbatore - Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI)
Madurai - Tamilnadu Government Pensioners Association. (TNGPA)
Tiruchy - Dakshina Railway Employees Union. (DREU)
Dindigul - Tamilnadu Government Employees Association (TNGEA)
Salem - All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association. (AIPRPA)
Erode - All India BSNL & DOT Pensioners Association.(AIBDPA)
Vellore - All India BSNL & DOT Pensioners Association. (AIBDPA)
Tirunelveli - All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA)
Thanjavur - All India Insurance Employees Association.(AIIEA)
Tuticorin - Tamilnadu Government Pensioners Association  &  All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association (TNGPA & AIPRPA)
AIPRPA CHQ calls upon all the Office Bearers of CHQ, State Associations, District / Divisional Associations to get in touch with all other organisations and mobilise and involve our Postal Pensioners in large numbers in observing the WFTU Programme in their respective centres. A report by Email / SMS to CHQ may be sent about holding the programme. 
K.Ragavendran
General Secretary 



Friday 19 September 2014

ILLOGICAL STAND OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ON PRE-2006 PENSIONERS!!

REVISION OF PENSION OF PRE-2006 PENSIONERS
APPLICABLE ONLY TO 
SAG (S-29) PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATION



Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has issued Office Memorandum No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 26.08.2014 addressed to Railway Board and copy marked to Ministry of Finance D/o Expenditue, conveying its decision to implement Revision of Pension of Pre-2006 Pensioners based on Fitment Table w.e.f 1.1.2006 as per order dated 1.11.2011 of Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench in OA No.655/2010 (after the appeals / review Petition against the said order dated 1.11.2011 were dismissed by Hon’ble High Court of Delhi and Hon’ble Supreme Court) only to members of Central Government SAG (S-29) (i.e. Pre-6th CPC Pay Scale S-29) Pensioners’ Association.

It is pertinent to note here that even as per Para 2 of Office Memorandum No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 26.08.2014 given below (which was issued to implement revision of pension only to SAG (S-29) Pensioners’ Association ) Hon’ble CAT Delhi had directed to re-fix the pension not only to petitioners but also to all pre-2006 retirees w.e.f 1.1.2006. But the present order of the Government creating a new wedge between the pre-2006 retirees as belonging to S-29 scale and belonging to other pay scales! Earlier it was indicated by the Government that the Court Order will be implemented only to petitioner organisation membership but now it has ordered for all pre-2006 retirees who retired in S-29 Pay Scale! The Government is taking stances peculiarly and without any logic as well as against the Court Orders repeatedly.

Now, a simple logical question props up in the minds of all Pre-2006 Pensioners, while Department of Pension decides to implement CAT’s order dated 1.11.2011 w.e.f 1.1.2006, had directed to re-fix the pension not only to petitioners but also to all pre-2006 retirees w.e.f 1.1.2006, how the same could be made applicable only to Petitioners when order of CAT dated 1.11.2011 attained finality ? Does the Government expects each and every Pre-2006 Pensioner in this Country to exhaust all the Legal Courses right from CAT to Supreme Court to get revision of Pension with effect from 01.01.2006 ?

No.38/37/08-P&PW(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare
3rd floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated the 26th August 2014

Office Memorandum

Sub: Implementation of Government’s decision in pursuance to CAT, Principal Bench, New Delhi order dated 15.05.2014 – Revision of Pension of Members of Central Government SAG (S-29) Pensioner’s Association – Reg.

The undersigned is directed to say that as per Para 4.2 of the Department’s OM of even number dated 1.9.2008 relating to revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners w.e.f 1.1.2006, the revised pension w.e.f 1.1.2006, in no case shall be lower than 50% of the sum of the minimum of pay in the pay band and grade pay thereon corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired. A clarification was issued vide DoP&PW OM of even number dated 3.10.2008 that the pension calculated at 50% of minimum of pay in the pay band plus grade pay would be calculated at the minimum of the pay in the pay in pay band (irrespective of the pre-revised scale of pay) plus the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale. It was also clarified that the pension will be reduced pro-rata where the pensioner had less than the maximum required service for full pension as per Rule 49 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, as applicable before 1.1.2006 and in no case it will be less than Rs. 3500/- p.m.

2. Central Government SAG (S-29) Pensioners’ Association along with Shri. Satish Verma, Retd. Chief Engineer, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources had filed OA No.655/2010 in the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi inter alia claiming that the revised pension of the pre-2006 pensioners should not be less than 50% of minimum of the pay band + grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which pensioner had retired as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure OM. No 1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008. Three other OAs were also filed by some pre-2006 pensioners in CAT, Principal Bench on the same issue. CAT Principal Bench New Delhi vide its order dated 1.11.2011 decided all the four OAs and directed to re-fix the pension of all pre-2006 retirees w.e.f 1.1.2006 based on the resolution dated 29.08.2008.

3. The above order was challenged by the Government by filing Writ Petition No. 1535/2012 and WP No. 2348-50/12 in the High Court of Delhi. The High Court noticed that the DoP&PW had in the meanwhile issued OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28.01.2013 which provided for stepping up of pension of pre-2006 pensioners w.e.f 24.09.2012 to 50% of the minimum of pay in pay band and grade pay corresponding to pre-revised pay scale from which pensioner had retired. The High Court also noted the contents of Para 5 of the OM dated 28.01.2013 according to which the pension will be reduced pro-rata where the pensioner had less than the maximum required service as per Rule 49 of the CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 as applicable before 1.1.2006 and in no case it will be less than Rs. 3500/- p.m. Hon’ble High Court observed that the only issued which survives i.e with reference to paragraph 9 of the OM dated 28.01.2013 which makes it applicable w.e.f 24.09.2012, and thereby denying arrears to be paid to the pensioners with effect from 01.01.2006. The writ petition No. 1535/2012 along with 3 other writ petitions was dismissed by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi on 29.04.2013.

4. An SLP No. 23055/2013 filed against the order dated 29.04.2013 of Delhi High Court in WP (C) No. 1535/2012 was dismissed by Hon’ble Supreme Court on 29.07.2013. The Review Petition and Curative Petition filed by Government against the dismissal of SLP No. 23055/2013 have also been dismissed.

5. As a Civil Appeal No. 8875-76/2011 on the similar issue filed by Ministry of Defence was pending in the Supreme Court, Union of India filed an SLP (CC) No. 18339-41/2013 (converted in to SLP (C) No.36148-50/2013. In it order dated 19.11.2013, Hon’ble Supreme Court was pleased to issue Notice on this SLP and directed to list the SLP along with Civil Appeal No. 8875-76/2011. Hon’ble Supreme Court also took on record the following statement of Respondent Pensioners in the order dated 19.11.2013:

“During the pendency of these Petitions, respondent-writ Petitioner shall not precipitate the matter by filing contempt proceedings either before the High Court or before the Tribunal”

6. The Contempt Petition No.158/2012, filed in OA No.655/2010 came up for hearing before the Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench New Delhi in its order dated 15.05.2014 noted the submission by Govt. Counsel that the Ministry of Law has advised the Department to implement the order dated 1.11.2011 of Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench in OA No. 655/2010 qua the petitioners. In view of this, Hon’ble CAT disposed of the Contempt Petition with direction to respondents to implement the directions of the Tribunal expeditiously preferably within three months.

7. In Implementation of the order dated 1.11.2011 of Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench in OA No.655/2010 and order dated 15.05.2014 of the Hon’ble CAT in CP No. 158/2012, it has been decided that the revised pension of members of Central Government SAG (S-29) Pensioners Association (as given in the enclosed list) will not be less than the 50% of the sum of the minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay thereon corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which they had retired as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure OM No.1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008 of Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure)

8. The normal family pension in respect of Central Government SAG (s-29) Pensioners Association (as given in the enclosed list) as revised w.e.f 1.1.2006 in terms of Para 4.1 or Para 4.2 of the OM dated 1.9.2008 would also be further stepped up to 30% of the sum of minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale in which the Government servant had retired as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance of Department of Expenditure OM No.1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August 2008 of Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure).

9. In case the consolidated pension/family pension calculated as per Para 4.1 of OM no 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 1.9.2008 in respect of member of Central Government SAG 9S-29) pensioners Association (as per enclosed list) is higher than the Pension/family pension calculated in the manner indicated above the same (higher consolidated Pension /family pension) will continue to be treated as basic pension/family pension.

10. All other conditions as given in OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008, as amended from timed to time shall remain unchanged in the case of pensioners as given in the list.

(Tripti Ghosh)
Director
Chairman
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)
Rail Bhawan
New Delhi


Friday 5 September 2014

AIC SOUVENIR

RELEASE OF AIC SOUVENIR TOMORROW AT VELLORE


A Special Meeting to release the Souvenir of 1st AIC as well as to thank and honour the Reception Committee Comrades including various sub-committees and also the District Secretaries who topped the donation and advertisement collection to the AIC is taking place tomorrow at Vellore.

The meeting will commence at 15.00 Hrs at Belliayappa Building near Vellore HPO. The meeting will be attended by various leaders including the State President of AIPRPA Comrade M.Kannaiyan and Comrade K.Ragavendran the General Secretary of AIPRPA. 

The Reception Committee General Secretary will ensure despitch of Souvenirs to all concerned shortly. 

K.Ragavendran
General Secretary