DENIAL OF IDA INSTALLMENTS TO BSNL PENSIONERS-
KERALA HIGH COURT ISSUES INTERIM ORDER ON WRIT PETITION
FILED BY AIBDPA .
Dear Comrades,
As you are aware, AIBDPA is the only organization intervened
on the DPE OM dated 19-11-2020 freezing three installments of IDA due from
01-10-2020-01-01-2021 and 01-04-2021 to the employees of CPSEs. We took up the
issue with the hon’ble Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises,
writing a detailed letter on 22-11-2020 stating that the DPE OM is not
applicable to BSNL pensioners as it is specifically mentioned in the OM that
the freezing is applicable to Executives and Non-Unionised Supervisors. We
again wrote to the Minister when the Assistant Solicitor General deposed before
the High Court of Kerala in a case filed
by FACT Employees Association, that the OM is applicable only to the Executives
and Non-Unionised Supervisors. DPE
itself issued a clarificatory order dated 08-01-2021 based on the Kerala High
Court order, stating that the freezing of IDA is applicable only to the
Executives and Non-Unionised Supervisors of the CPSEs and it is not applicable
to other employees including workmen.
AIBDPA wrote another letter on 09-01-2021 to the Minister quoting the DPE OM dated 08-01-2021 and demanding to cause necessary action for issuing formal orders for the payment of two installments of IDA due from 01-10-2020(5.5%) and 0-1-01-2021 (6.1%) to BSNL pensioners. DPE responded to this letter and forwarded our letter to DoT, being the administrative Department,for necessary action on 04-02-2021 with copy to AIBDPA. CHQ , then wrote to Secretary, DoT attaching the letter of DPE and demanded early action to issue necessary directives to the banks and post offices for disbursement of the two IDA installments to BSNL pensioners.
But having no positive response or action either from DPE or
DoT, CHQ filed a writ petition in the High Court of Kerala on 26-02 2021
through Advocate V V Suresh. The Hon’ble High Court accepted the case and
issued an interim order directing the respondents not to deny the IDA
installments to BSNL pensioners. The counsel appearing for the government asked
time for the counter affidavit/ reply and our advocate argued strongly that the
stand of the government has already been stated by the Assistant Solicitor
General in similar cases of this court to the effect that freezing is
applicable only to Executives and Non-Unionised Supervisors and no time is necessary.
However, the High Court allowed time and also issued an interim order in our
favour on today itself. Details will be intimated after receipt of the
certified copy of the judgment. It is
significant to get an interim Order on the same date of admission of the case.
YES, COMRADES; WE ARE ALMOST TO THE ACHEIVEMENT.
With warm greetings,
K G Jayaraj
General Secretary