.CHQ has the gratification that another family pension case of the missing employee is also got settled. The case was brought to our notice by Com. K S C Bose, Circle Secretary, Andhra Pradesh during the Circle Conference of AP Circle on 08-12-2022.

The synopsis of the issue is as follows :Shri. K. Pandu Raju, Telegraph Man, Ganavaram, Vijayawada went missing on 20-01-2005. When he did not returned and enquires made to trace him also failed an FIR was registered in the concerned police station on 25-07-2005.Though all these informations were conveyed to the concerned BSNL authorities, they preferred to issue charge sheet to the missing employee for alleged unauthorized absence from duty. Inquiry was held ex parte and punishment of removal from service was awarded.

The hapless wife of the missing employee approached the BSNL authorities for help but was denied stating that her husband was alcoholic and a habitual absentee. After scrutiny, it was observed that no approval from DoT was taken for inflicting the major punishment of removal from service which is mandatory. However some clarifications were felt necessary to take up the issue at the appropriate levels. These were sought and made available by the Circle Secretary.

Then CHQ wrote to Shri. V. L. Kantha Rao, then Additional Secretary, DoT and to Shri. Saurabh Tyagi, PGM(Estt), BSNL Corporate Office with all the required documents on 9th February, 2023. Com. K. G. Jayaraj ,General Secretary met Shri. V. L Kantha Rao, then Additional Secretary who only helped to settle a similar family pension case of Smt. A. Rajeswari, wife of Shri. A Joga Rao, Regular Mazdoor , Visakhapatnam, AP, and convinced him the genuineness of the issue. The Additional Secretary appreciated the efforts of AIBDPA for taking up such genuine issues to help the poor families in distress. He, as in the case of Smt. A. Rajeswari , wife of missing Regular Mazdoor Shri. A. Joga Rao, Visakhapatnam, AP, entrusted Shri.R. Madhava Rao, Director (PSU ), DoT to follow up the case for early settlement. Shri. Saurabh Tyagi, then PGM (Estt), BSNL CO also was positive and assured to do the needful.

CHQ pursued the issue at regular intervals. At one stage it was reported that the then Secretary, DoT Shri.K Rajaraman made some adverse comments on the file which delayed the issue to a great extent. Then again the Additional Secretary intervened and got it cleared. On 28th February, 2024 got the information from Com. K. S. C. Bose, Circle Secretary, AP that Smt. K. Viyaya Lakshmi, widow of the missing employee, Shri. K. Pandu Raju( virtually dead )has been paid an amount of Rs. 20,70,778 towards arrears of family pension from 25-07-2005( date of FIR )to 31-12-2023 vide order dated 23-12-2023, as we demanded.

CHQ congratulate Smt. K. Vijaya Lakshmi and Com. K. S. C. Bose, Circle Secretary, AP for the good achievement. CHQ expresses its profound thanks to Shri. V. L. Kantha Rao, then Additional Secretary, DoT for his exemplary humanitarian approach, Shri. R.Madhava Rao, Director ( PSU ), DoT for pursuing the issue with all the concerned levels and Shri. Saurabh Tyagi, then PGM ( Estt ), BSNL CO for initiating necessary action at BSNL level.