bsnl-pensioners-body-demands-withdrawal-of-proposed-amendment-to-pension-rules-the-hindu.pdf

BSNL corporate office letter dated 26.03.2025, addressed to all Heads of Telecom Circles/Metro Districts and other administrative units. The letter requests information regarding the financial implications if the Supreme Court order is implemented.

Enclosures :Hon’ble CAT, New Delhi, Principal Bench order dated 21.03.2023 (O.A. No. 2544/2015).Hon’ble High Court, New Delhi decision dated 23.01.2024 (Writ Petition (Civil) 15760/2023).Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 03.01.2025.

letter-dated-26.03.2025-to-circles-in-the-matter-of-slp-c-dy.-

no.-51350_2024.pdf

All India BSNL Pensioners Association strongly condemns the government’s proposed amendment to the Pension Rules, which seeks to override Supreme Court rulings and deny rightful benefits to pensioners.

This amendment is not just a bureaucratic change—it is an outright assault on the dignity and financial security of millions of retirees who have served the nation with dedication.

The Supreme Court, in landmark judgments such as D.S. Nakara v. Union of India, has upheld that pension is not a government charity but a vested right of retirees, and that differentiating pensioners solely on the basis of retirement date is unconstitutional. Instead of respecting these rulings, the government is now manipulating the law to suit its convenience, bypassing judicial scrutiny, and institutionalizing discrimination against past pensioners.

Exposing the Government’s Real Intentions Deliberate Exclusion of Past Pensioners:

The amendment ensures that future Pay Commission benefits apply only to new retirees, robbing existing pensioners of fair revisions. This is an open violation of equality and natural justice. Financial Austerity at the Cost of the Elderly: The government is prioritizing budget control over retirees’ livelihoods, refusing to honor pension commitments despite collecting lifelong service from employees. If there is money for corporate bailouts and political extravagance, why deny justice to pensioners? Suppressing Judicial Directives: This is a validation law—a sneaky move to neutralize unfavorable Supreme Court judgments that upheld pensioners’ rights. By rewriting the law, the government is evading legal accountability.

Pension is a Right, Not a Favor: Retirees do not live on government generosity—they live on what is rightfully theirs. This amendment reeks of betrayal, treating pensioners as a burden rather than the backbone of the nation’s workforce.

We, as a pensioners’ association, demand an immediate rollback of this anti-pensioner amendment.

We call upon:

Parliamentarians to oppose this draconian move and stand for justice.

Trade Unions and Employee Associations to recognize this as a dangerous precedent that could impact future retirees as well.

The Judiciary to take suo motu cognizance of this attempt to override legal protections.

All pensioners and the public to unite in resisting this injustice and expose the government’s anti-retiree agenda.

If the government does not withdraw this amendment, we will escalate our protests nationwide, mobilizing pensioners, employees, and the public against this blatant violation of rights.

We refuse to be silent victims. Pension is our right, and we will fight for it.

V Vara Prasad General Secretary

Circle Conference of UP (West) was successfully held on 24-3-2025 at Meerut. The total number of participants was approximately 150. Conference was addressed by General Secretary Com. Vara Prasad focusing on the issues faced by BSNL retired pensioners. CHQ Deputy General Secretary Com. Anupam Kaul, Org Secretary Com. J.S. Dahiya, and Uttar Pradesh (West) Circle Secretary Com. Kailash Gautam also addressed the gathering. Com RD Ram Vice President (CHQ) shared the dias. The following office bearers were elected for the next three years: Com. Chandramohan Sharma – President Com. Kailash Gautam – Secretary Com. Rakesh Chand – Treasurer

The AIBSNLPWA Dharwad District Conference was held grandly on March 21, 2025, at the GM TD Hubballi Office Conference Hall. District President Com. M.N. Ghorpade presided over the event, while Com. R. Jayashankar, the Circle Secretary, attended as the chief guest. Several key leaders, including Com. N.K. Gandigawad, Com. C.K. Hosamani, Com. Shivanand, Com. S.L. Pujar, Com. V.M. Kanakeri, and Com. S.K. Nadiger, along with district and branch office bearers and a large number of members, participated. For the term 2025-26 and 2026-27, Com. M.N. Ghorpade was unanimously elected as President, Com. Vijaykumar Mandi as District Secretary, and Com. S.K. Nadiger as Treasurer.

Bi-Annual Conference of Cuttack Telecom District was held on March 2, 2025, at Cuttack, under the presidentship of Com. Ramesh Chandra Mohanty. Com. J.K. Tripathy, CHQ Vice President and Com. B.N. Behera, Odisha Circle Secretary, have attended and addressed. The conference unanimously elected the office bearers for the term 2025-2027, with Com. Ramesh Chandra Mohanty as Chief Patron, Com. Subha Narayan Das as President, Com. Sricharan Mohanty as District Secretary, and Com. Prafulla Chandra Das as Treasurer.

The Tamil Nadu Circle Executive Committee (CEC) meeting was successfully held on March 18-19, 2025, at RGMTTC Chennai. Com. V. Saminathan, Circle President, presided over the meeting. The meeting was attended and addressed by: Com. D. Gopalakrishnan, CHQ President Com. V. Vara Prasad, General Secretary Com. K. Muthiyalu, CHQ Vice President Com. A. Sugumaran, Veteran Leader Com. Sundarakrishnan, Circle Secretary, presented a detailed report on the activities of the Tamil Nadu Circle. The meeting was well-organized, with the STR Division successfully hosting the event.

Our matter, listed as Items 86-88, was called in the morning; however, due to time constraints, it could not be taken up today. Upon the request of our Senior Counsel, Mr. Ghose, the Court has agreed to list the matter at 2:30 PM on 22.04.2025. This specific time allocation is a rare exception.

CALICUT

KOTTAYAM