Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary has met Smt. Vandana Gupta, Controller General of Communication Accounts on 08-08-2025 and had a discussion on the following issues ;

1. Payment of arrears to the Organised Accounts Cadres for the upgraded pay scales from 01-01-1996 to 18-02-2003.

General Secretary handed over the detailed letter on the issue and requested early settlement. CGCA replied that she will look into the issue and do the needful.

2. Arbitrary deduction in pension by CCA, Tamil Nadu- case of Shri. T. Mahaliappan, STM (Retd), Pollachi. Tamil Nadu.

On seeing the letter, CGCA replied that the case had already been disposed of. General Secretary told CGCA that it was done based on the wrong report of the CCA and brought to her notice, the relevant points on which this Association wants to reconsider the issue. CGCA agreed to examine the case.

,The culmination of the phased program of Agitation by Forum of Civil Pensioners Associations demanding repeal of the draconian Validation of Pension Rules is the massive rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from 11 to 13hrs on 10-10-2025. CHQ, in consultation with Secretary General, NCCPA has decided to participate 500 comrades in the rally.

Accordingly, quota is fixed as follows ;

NTR, Delhi-50, Haryana -30, UP(W)-30, UP(E)-20,Rajasthan -30, Punjab :30, Assam-10, NE-1-02, NE-2-02, J&K-02, Uttarakhand -02, Odisha -05, Bihar -05, MP-20, Gujarath -20, Maharashtra -50, Andhra -25, Telangana -20, West Bengal -30, Kolkata Telephones -30, Chhattisgarh -05, Jharkhand -02, Tamil Nadu -30, Chennai Telephones -20, Karnataka -20, Kerala -30CORTO -05, Ambala BSNL PWA-05.

One day accommodation will be arranged for 9/10, October, 2025 for those from far of Circles. CHQ was really burdened with so many complaints against hotel accommodation arranged by CHQ in the past. So Circle Secretaries may arrange accommodation for the respective comrades through online booking as per their choice. CHQ will pay @₹ 300 per person for such arrangements. In case of any difficulty , circles may contact the CHQ.

So Comrades, Let us make the Delhi Chalo program a grand success and defeat sinister move of the government.

*Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary has met Shri. Kalyan Sagar Nippani, Director (HR ), BSNL on 07-08-2025 and discussed the following issues.

1. Withdrawal of Chargesheets issued to ST VRS Retirees of Maharashtra.

At the outset General Secretary thanked Director (HR ) for fulfilling the assurance on payment of retirement benfits to ST VRS Retirees. But it could not be implemented due to the damaging clarification issued by DoT in reply to the letter of CCA, Maharashtra. General Secretary requested the Director to cause necessary action for withdrawal of chargesheets issued to ST VRS Retirees wrongly after retirement.

Director (HR ) replied that BSNL is sympathetic on the issue and wanted early settlement. However, withdrawal of chargesheets involves certain technical issues and asked General Secretary to meet the PGM( Estt ) and called the PGM (Estt ) to do the needful.

2. Option to change the old option in BSNL MRS for Family Pensioners.

General Secretary reminded Director (HR ) about the brief discussion he had on the issue based on the detailed letter and wanted an early solution.

Director (HR ) replied that he had marked the letter to PGM ( Admin ) for favourable action and told General Secretary to discuss this issue also with Shri. S. P. Singh, PGM (Estt ) who is holding the additional charge of PGM (Admin ).

Accordingly, General Secretary met Shri. S. P. Singh and had a detailed discussion.

Regarding withdrawing the charge sheets issued to ST VRS Retirees, PGM ( Estt) replied that, it can’t be done without any supporting orders. He further stated that BSNL is fully convinced of the issue and wanted an early settlement. But there should be some positive orders/ directives either from the authorities or from any court.

On Option to Family Pensioners in BSNL MRS, the PGM responded positively and assured to consider the issue.

Pension Revision- the need of the hour is a reasonable out of court settlement.

The Central Government employees from Department of Telecommunications and Department of Telecom Services were transferred enmasse on deputation to the new entity, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and later absorbed them with effect from 01-10-2000.During the formation of BSNL, the then Central Government led by Shri. A. B. Bajpaye had assured the erstwhile employees of Department of Telecommunications and Department of Telecom Services better prospects and government pension.Necessary amendment in the CCS( Pension) Rules, 1972 as Rule 37A was also made. Accordingly, pension to absorbed retirees of BSNL and MTNL is being paid from the Consolidated Fund by the Central Government.They were granted IDA Pay Scales and quarterly dearness allowance.

Pension Revision was also given from 01-01-2007 with 30% fitment, the maximum fitment recommended by the 2nd PRC for the CPSE Executives. The 3rd PRC has recommended a maximum fitment of 15% from 01-01-2017. Naturally, this has been our legitimate right and demand. But this has not been implemented in BSNL/ MTNL due to affordability conditions.

The government had initially taken a stand that pension revision is possible only after wage revision of BSNL MTNL employees. The government conveniently forget the fact that pension revision has nothing to do with wage revision as the full liability of pensionary benefits of absorbed BSNL MTNL pensioners is to be borne by the central government. Further, the pension contribution of the BSNL/ MTNL absorbed retirees have been paid to the government based on the maximum of their pay scales.

The Department of Telecommunications having been convinced of this fact had prepared an Internal Note proposing pension revision delinking wage revision and this was declared in the meeting with all the pensioners associations held on 17-10-2022 by the then Member ( Services ). The only disagreement in the meeting was the zero percent fitment proposed by DoT and after serious discussion, it was agreed to reconsider the fitment factor favourably. The file was processed accordingly and reached to near finality. Presumably due to the court cases filed by certain pensioners organizations and the subsequent PBCAT, Delhi order on pension revision, the settlement was eluded.

Though former Minister of Communications, Shri. Ashwini Vaishnav had assured a reasonable settlement even after the PBCAT order, nothing has happened thereafter. Also the goverment has gone back to its old stand, ” Pension Revision only after wage revision. ” Additionally, the government has got rather provided another excuse of ” subjudice “, thanks to the case filed by certain pensioners organizations seeking 7th CPC fitment.

At the same time government has decided to appoint 8th CPC for pay/ pension revision for the Central government employees and pensioners with effect from 01-01-2026. The unjust delay in their pension revision due from 01-01-2017 has naturally caused distress and unrest amongst the BSNL/ MTNL pensioners as there had been no pension revision for the last 181/2 years. During this period thousands of BSNL MTNL retirees have left this world without getting their legitimate right of pension revision.

Nobody can predict as to when the court case would come to a logical conclusion after the judgment by hon’ble High Court and thereafter the Supreme Court. And how many absorbed BSNL/ MTNL Pensioners would remain alive at that time to avail their legitimate right.

So there is absolutely no justification to deny the benefit of Pension Revision in the name of court case and the government should come forward for an out of court reasonable settlement at the earliest.

The 4th biennial Circle Conference of Haryana has been held successfully at Arya Samaj Hall, Ambala on 06-08-2025. Com.Ramkumar Kalsi, Circle President presided. Com.Kuldeep Singh, Circle Secretary welcomed and presented the report and accounts.

Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the conference . He explained the current developments , with particular reference to the enactment of the draconian Validation of Pension Rules as part of Finance Bill, 2025 and the initiative taken by NCCPA in organising massive protest actions on the auspices of Forum of Civil Pensioners Associations , culminating with a huge Delhi Chalo programme on 10-10-2025. The dangerous act is being challenged legally also in the Supreme Court. The inaugural address also touched other important issues like Pension Revision, Medical ,both BSNL MRS and CGHS, Meet the Pensioner etc.

8 comrades participated in the discussion after which the report and accounts were adopted. Office bearers were elected unanimously with the following important functionaries;

President: Com.Ramkumar Kalsi

Circle Secretary : Com.Kuldeep Singh

Nearly 30 leaders representing the Civil Pensioners Associations, State Governemnt and the Banks attended the important online meeting of Forum of Civil Pensioners at 3.00 P.M. today (06.08.2025) convened by the Secretary General NCCPA Comrade K.Ragavendran. NCCPA President Comrade Shiva Gopal Mishra presided over the meeting and Comrade VAN Nmboodiri Patron NCCPA subsequently presided and concluded the meeting. The meeting reviewed the Human Chain 1st Phase of Programme of Civil Pensioners Associations and planned for the next phases of Programme and also the legal proceedings undertaken. Almost all the leaders placed their views. The following decisions are taken unanimously:

1) The meeting praised the rank and file for the successful and militant Human Chain Programme in all States and found a new enthusiasm amongst the Senior Citizen Pensioners in the newly formed Unity of Pensioners Associations.

2) The Meeting decided to fight the validation clause adopted by the Central Government irrespective of Government’s decisions on 8th CPC. 

3) State level ‘Forum of Civil Pensioners Associations’ will be formed in all States and the Number of Office Bearers may be decided by the States themselves but there must be a Convenor, a President and a Treasurer. This State Body should plan for the success of all the remaining programmes. 

4. The Civilian Pensioners Associations alone will  be the signatories of the affidavit to court case but the Memorandum can be updated with Banks, LIC, EPF Pensioners and also the general aspect of BSNL MTNL Pensioners that no Pension Revision was allowed in these sectors.

5. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal services was approved by the meeting. But the copy of the affidavit will be circulated to all Associations and their suggestions will be routed to the Advocate through comrade A..K.Kaushik by the Secretary General NCCPA. 

6. State Bodies are empowered to decide about the submission of memorandum to the Honourable Governors either through a delegation or after a demonstration or after the Convention according to local conditions. However it is decided that it will be advisable to hold a demonstration and a delegation goes to the Governors to submit the memorandum.

7. Comrade I.S.Dabas should ascertain from the Police and all the state bodies should work hard for fulfilling the comrades to be brought to Delhi Dharna. No quota at CHQ to be fixed and Individual Associations should make the arrangement for stay etc of Delhi Chalo Comrades.

8. Associations not remitted their 1st instalment of Legal Fund are asked to remit early.

-KR SG NCCPA-

Considering the poor financial position of CHQ NCCPA, the National Executive held at New Delhi on 19-04-2025 had decided that each affiliate organisation of NCCPA should contribute Rs.5 per member as Special donation to NCCPA. Accordingly, as per the call of CHQ , Rs.2,51840 is received from the district branches. We had already paid Rs. 1,00,000 on 02-07-2025 and the balance Rs.1,51,840 has been paid on 04-08-2025. While CHQ is thankful to all the districts for the contributions made, it does not reflects the actual membership. This has happened due to nonpayment of some of the districts and also because of token payment by some other districts.

EXPEDITE PAYMENT OF LEGAL FUND OF Rs.50 PER MEMBER.

As per the decision taken in the online meeting of Forum of Civil Pensioners Associations held on 10-06-2025, eminent lawer Shri. Kapil Sibal has been entrusted to challenge the Validation of Pension Rules in the Supreme Court. It is a known fact that huge amount is required for this purpose and the quota to each organisation has been fixed according to the membership and capacity. Our share is initially fixed as Rs.4,00,000 and we have already paid Rs.2, 00,000. The share is likely to be increased as some of the organisations have withdrawn and some other unresponsive. Therefore those districts which have not yet remitted the legal fund of Rs.50 per member are once again requested to make the payment without further delay.

The 3rd District Conference of Tumkur has been held on 31-07-2025 under the presidentship of Com. K Nageswaraiah, District President. Coms.Muddaiah, Circle Secretary, H C Prakash, AGS, Earanna, CHQ Organising Secretary and L D Durgad, Circle President addressed the conference and the issues explained . The report and audited accounts presented by Com.Vazeerjan, District Secretary and Com. Narasimhamoorthy, Treasurer were adopted after discussion. The following are the important functionaries in the election of office bearers held unanimously.;

Com. K Nageswaraiah (President) Com. M Ramachandra (District Secretary) Com.D .Venkatesh (Treasurer).

Sultanpur District Conference has been held at the Conference hall, Telephone Exchange, Sultanpur on 31-07-2025. Com.K R Yadav, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference and explained the issues and the agitational programme of Forum of Civil Pensioners Association led by NCCPA.

In the unanimous election of office bearers , the following are the important functionaries; Com. R C Pathak (President) Com.R K Misra( District Secretary) Com. A K Verma (Treasurer)