Question :   According to the 3rd PRC recommendations, BSNL is not eligible for Wage Revision. On 19-07-2017, the Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has already fully approved the recommendations of the 3rd PRC. Under these circumstances, whether the DoT has power to allow BSNL to give Wage Revision to it’s employees? 
Answer : Certainly, the DoT, being the Administrative Ministry for BSNL, is having a major role to play in the Wage Revision of BSNL employees. However, we should understand that, right from the beginning, the DoT is playing a negative role in the matter of wage revision to BSNL employees. The unions and associations, as well as the BSNL Management have demanded exemption from the Affordablity Clause of the 3rd PRC. But, the the government will not accept this, unless it is recommended by the DoT. 
On 12-07-2017, the Committee of Secretaries meeting took place under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, to take it’s final decision on the recommendations of the 3rd PRC. Shri Sivasailam, Additional Secretary, who attended that meeting on behalf of the DoT, did not demand that BSNL should be exempted from the Affordability Clause of the 3rd PRC. Thus, the Committee of Secretaries decided not to give exemption to any PSU. So, we must understand that the DoT itself is not in favour of giving any exemption to BSNL, from the recommendations of the 3rd PRC.
Thereafter, the draft Cabinet Note, prepared by the Committee of Secretaries, came for the vetting of the DoT. Thus, the DoT got one more opportunity to help BSNL. This opportunity should have been utilised by the DoT, to get it’s recommendation incorporated in the Cabinet Note, that BSNL should be exempted from the Affordablity Clause of the 3rd PRC. But, the DoT did not do so. Thus, it is very clear that the DoT itself does not want to give Wage Revision to BSNL employees. So, if anyone says that the Cabinet might have given power to the DoT, to consider Wage Revision to BSNL employees, they are only fooling themselves and fooling the employees. Only the powerful struggles of the BSNL employees can compel the DoT and the NDA government to settle the Wage Revision. 

(courtesy:BSNLEU website)