Pension to RRB employees updates - 9

As already informed to you, we have filed two writs in Supreme Court, one directly by AIRRBEA itself and other one through Coordination Committee of our units in South Malabar Gr Bank. The second one being the original respondent in the Supreme Court in the orders of 31.1.2001, came before the bench on 26th of April 2013 and has been ordered to be tagged with the present main case of GOI against the Pensioners Samithi.

You are aware that GOI filed a SLP in Supreme Court against the verdict of division bench of Rajasthan dated 23.8.2012 with Pensioners Samithi as the respondents. This matter came before the bench of Supreme Court on 18.2.2013 and was ordered time of four weeks to respondents to file their counters and further four weeks to GOI to file their rejoinder. The court also ordered it to be posted in the vacation bench after the above process. The Registrar of Supreme Court on 29th April 2013has observed that the process has been completed and now the case will be taken up by the vacation bench any day after 15th May 2013.

The other petition by AIRRBEA for impleading in the main case will be taken up during the next hearing. We are ready with all the material and advocates to present our case effectively and have full hopes of the result. It is only the matter of some time, money and efforts. All our members can be in full confidence and faith for positive outcome.

The Department of Financial Services has been stating to our delegations and in the conciliation before CLC that they are ready to extend the pension scheme as approved by previous FM, if Law Ministry convey clearance. We have been trying to meet Sri. Aswani Kumar, Hon'ble Law Minister for requesting him to arrange to reply positively, pending the case in Supreme Court. But, now the overall picture indicates that the Supreme Court verdict can be the only final solution for payment of pension as in commercial banks to all employees in RRBs, irrespective of profits or loss.

Meanwhile at the fag end, some other Associations also are desperately trying to implead in the above case some how to show their name. And except our Association, all others are collecting legal fund with the plea of filing a case. We have seen such dramas in the past also. Members are aware that AIRRBEA initiated the case in 2004 at Banglore High Court and won the judgment on 22.3.2011, which was the base for Rajasthan Court. And the GOI has filed an SLP in Supreme Court on the verdict of division bench of Rajasthan High Court. So, this is the main course of legal fight, with which only AIRRBEA has been associated all along.