Any one can write letters to any body he or she wish in a democratic country like ours.
It is a fact that letters may not resolve bank pensioners long pending issues especially from individuals.Still few choose to write to Hon.President, Chief Justice,
PM.FM and to all available addresses and mail IDs!No one can prevent if one continues to act so.Interestingly no replies are found received in general in such cases.IBA has clearly shown on their website that,they may not give any reply to such letters!
How we can resolve our issues?
01.Only two ways are open before us now.If the issues are legally entitled one, seek legal remedy through judiciary.Or else discuss and sort out our issues through existing platform.( Bilateral talks with IBA-UFBU)
02.We have approached courts in the past and could secure verdict in our favour in several issues.We have lost in few cases too.Still there are cases pending before courts including Apex court.
03.Under the affidavit given to Hon.SC, on 24.8.2022, IBA, stated that " That there is no provision in Pension Regulations in 1995 (BEPR, 1995) for any Updation in the Pension of Bank."
Employees and Officers".( in SLP (C) 5561/2016)It is a fact.
But it is immaterial,if we discuss and sort out.In RBI or in CCS pension rules too were not having such provisions while implementing Updation of pension for their retirees.
04.At the cost of repetition,it may be added here that in the matter of Regulation 35(1) case was filed on this point which was dismissed by Karnataka High Court in 2018.(WP 48905/2018.26.3.2021)Few other HCs also decided in similar cases referring the matter to banks.Harping on same rejected point by leaders of retirees organisations and others may not help us instead do only harm.
05.Here, under Regulation 35(1),Appendix-I categorically restricts the application of
updation of pension only to those employees who retired
during the period between 01.01.1986 to 31.10.1987.That too pertains to merger of portion of DR towards B.Pension and nothing else.
The above process is not Updation of Pension as we demand, as and when wage revision takes place at industry level.
06.In late M C Singla case dismissed by Punjab and Haryana High Court(now pending before Apex court) has examined clause 12 under Memorandum of Settlement 1993,on updation of pension, which seems to be more relevant than 35(1) and Regulation 56.(WPC 6233/2008.dt 16.4.2012)
07.It would be better and more appropriate to write letter, if one wish, to leaders of UFBU to speed up process of talks with IBA to sort out long pending Updation of Pension, now kept under Residual Issues,in March 2024,despite assurance of resolution within six months!
More over who will evince interest to read such letters running in pages, with misinformation! Sheer waste of energy.
Letters may appear again and again.
Our only concern is early resolution of our major issues. Since retirees do not have any platform,the need of the hour is to work jointly with employees too for it in right direction.
It may happen.