1) Some prominent members of this group have always held the view that although Regulation 35(1) describes the exercise carried out for those who retired between 1/1/1986 and 31/10/1987 (under 4th BPS) through the formula contained in the Appendix-1 relating to the Regulation as UPDATION, it was only a mere merger of a portion DA with basic pay to align their DA with that of 5th BPS retirees and NOT FOR INCREASING THEIR TOTAL PENSION.
2) In this context, it is interesting to observe that the arguments of the Respondents' advocate appear to suggest that it was indeed an updation of total pension but the Regulation restricted it to the particular group of pensioners alone and the subsequent groups cannot claim such a benefit.
3) With regard to the amendment made to the Regulation in 2003, it is interpreted by some that it was to enable devising a formula for fixing the basic pension of those whose last 10 months of service fall under 2 successive BPS periods. This process is also termed as updation of pension in the Regulations, although it is only a procedure to fix the basic pension.
So, THIS PROCEDURE IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS DONE THROUGH APPENDIX-1.
4) It is not clear if an amendment was necessary to devise the above formula. If this alone was the purpose of the amendment it could have been mentioned specifically instead of using the term "wherever applicable".
These points raise the doubt that originally there was an intention to revise the pensions upwards after every BPS but it was dropped after the second option for pension was given and more than that after BEPR Scheme became close ended with its substitution by NPS in April 2010.
Let us wait and see how the honourable judges interpret and decide, in the absence of anything in the Regulations to the effect that the updation given for 4th BPS group will not entitle the subsequent groups for a similar benefit
and pensioners in RBI getting it periodically.
K N Ramani