I.O.B. RETIREES’ ASSOCIATION (Affiliated to the All India Bank Retirees’ Federation, New Delhi)

Cordially invites you to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Indian Overseas Bank On Wednesday the 10th August 2011, 05.30 p.m. Sri M. Narendra Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Overseas Bank will be the Chief Guest Sri AL. Chandramouli President, I.O.B.Retirees Association presides.

Greetings by Sri A. Vellayan Director, Indian Overseas Bank & Chairman, Murugappa Group Smt. Nupur Mitra Executive Director, Indian Overseas Bank Sri A.K. Bansal Executive Director, Indian Overseas Bank Sri G. Ravindrakumar Gandhi General Manager, Indian Overseas Bank Com. L. Balasubramanian President, AIOBEU

Venue: Dakshinamurthy Auditorium, P.S. Higher Secondary School, 215, Ramakrishna Mutt Road, (Opp. R.K. Mutt) Mylapore, Chennai 600 004

PROGRAMME (10-08-2011 )

05.00 p.m. : High tea 05.30 p.m. : Platinum Jubilee celebrations of our bank. D Prayer D Welcome Address: Sri. T.R. Venkataraman D Presidential Address: Sri. AL. Chandramouli, President D Address by Chief Guest: Sri. M. Narendra, C & M.D., IOB D Presentation ofPay Back Scheme cheque to Mr. A.R. Palanisamy, Secretary SEED Introductory Remarks: Sri. J. Balasubramanian Presentation of Cheque: Sri. KM. Narayanan D Honouring Retired General Managers D Honouring AIOBEU and IOBOA D Felicitations : Sri. A.Vellayan, Director, IOB Smt. Nupur Mitra, Executive Director IOB Sri. A.K. Bansal, Executive Director IOB Sri. G. Ravindrakumar Gandhi, General Manager, IOB Com. L. Balasubramaniam, President AIOBEU Com. S. Srinivasan, General Secretary AIOBEU D Vote of Thanks :Sri. B. Ramji , General Secretary D National Anthem Quarterly News Bulletin of I.O.B. Retirees' Association

Volume : 2 August 2011 Issue: 3 President Speaks My Dear Veterans! Since our last Issue many good things listed below have happened in our Bank for the Retirees thanks to the positive attitude exhibited by our beloved C & M D Mr. Narendra, General Managers Mr. S. Chandrasekaran, Mr. G.R. Gandhi, Deputy General Manager Mr. V.C. Ramachandran and the Personnel Department. They are: 1. An additional Ex-Gratia of Rs1000/- over and above normal Ex-Gratia of Rs2090/- are being paid to Pre 1986 Retirees and spouses of deceased Pre 1986 Retirees. We have been representing to the Bank for increasing the Ex-Gratia amount since 1st September 2008. We are happy Bank has conceded to our demand now. This is IOB exclusive. Had our Retired Executive Director Mr. S.N. Soni been alive he would have been happy because this was the demand made by his wife when the undersigned and Mr.B.Ramji called on them in Lucknow. Now his wife along with others will get this benefit. 2. Bank has set up Grievances Cell in response to our demand made to the Parliament Committee. our Bank’s Circular quoting IBA’s Circular refers to this in their preamble. 3. Doubled the amount under Pensioners Loan. 4. Started Issuing Identity Cards to the Retirees. Those of you who have not yet got the Identity Cards can approach Pension Paying Branch for the same. Bank is actively considering : To give one more option for the Retirees to join REMAS and permit optees of VRS 2000 also to join the scheme after their superannuation. To Sanction Festival Advance for Retirees. Our Bank under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Narendra backed up by devoted IOBIANS is doing extremely well showing good results. I am sure shortly Bank will regain its glory and become the Best Bank in the industry. In the recently concluded Executive Directors interview our Bank has got bountiful with selection of Mr. S. Chandrasekaran and Mr. M.S. Raghavan as Executive Directors to fill the vacancies in UCO Bank and Indian Bank respectively. Mr. S.N. Mishra has been selected and kept in the waiting list. I congratulate all of them and wish them all the Best in their tenure as Executive Directors. I am happy to note that IOB’s potential has been recognized and wish the same trend continues in the years to come. We are celebrating Platinum Jubilee of the Bank on 10th August 2011. Our Chairman and Managing Director Mr.Narendra, Mr.A.Vellayan Director of our Bank and Chariman Murugappa Group along with Executive Directors Mrs.Nupur Mitra and Mr. A.K.Bansal will address the Retirees. Com Mr.L.Balasubramanian President AIOBEU and General Secretary NUBE will also offer his felicitations. Formal Inivtation is enclosed to this issue of The Veteran. I request all Veterans to attend the meeting without fail. At the apex level we are trying to form Tamil Nadu Bank Retirees’ Fedeartion . So far we had meetings in Pondicherry. Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy and Madurai. The response everywhere was overwhelming. The Federation will be inaugurated shortly in Chennai. Once again I request you to attend the proposed meeting of our Association on 10th August 2011 and make it a resounding success. With Regards, Yours truly Al. Chandramouli President

CONTENTS

1)President speaks 1 8) FEDERATION NEWS 2) G S Speaks -The Course of a movement 2 Office-bearers meeting of AIBRF AGITATIONAL PROGRAMME LAUNCHED BY AIBRF 3) An Appeal SUPPORT FROM UFBU: NATIONAL CONVENTION 4) Pay back Grows AIBEA writes to Finance Minister on Grievances of Bank retirees 5) Association News Tamil Nadu Bank Retirees’ Federation Formed AIBRF Central Committee meets Meeting with Sri. S. Chandrasekaran - GM (PAD) on 10-03-2011 No Income tax return Matters taken up with the Bank 9) BANK NEWS New Pension Optees: Deduction of tax at source: Sri.G. Ravindra Kumar Gandhi takes over as General Manager (Personnel) Pension Payment toIOBPensioners on the last working day IOB crosses business mix of Rs 2,50,000 crores Chennai–1 and Chennai -4 Regional Councils Joint meeting IOB ‘s Hat trick plus Kolkata Regional Council, Quarterly Meeting and 10) Personal Annual General meeting 11) Obituary Madurai Regional Council Inaugurated 12) Deposit Mobilisation Campaign Palakkad Regional Council : Meeting of 24-04-11 and 17-07-11 13) Bank Pass Book Hyderabad Regional Council meeting Salem Regional Council Inaugurated 14) Dearness Relief from August2011 to January 2012 —32 6) New Pension scheme Launched 15) LEGAL CORNER HC: Don’’t make retirees run pillar-to-post for benefits 7) AIOBEU launches NUBE Historic Judgment by Madras High Court:

2 G S Speaks

Dear Veterans ! The Course of a movement

When history is made, the people involved are neither aware of it nor about their role in it. It is true of First war of Independence in 1857, Quit India movement or Salt Satyagraha.

Similar is the case of trade union movement in Banks or the Bank Officer trade union movement, wherein we were all actively involved till our retirement.

History never tires of repeating. It is happening once again. The growth of Bank Retirees’ organizations is slowly and steadily building up into a movement.AIBRF is undoubtedly the pioneer and leader of this movement. The defining events in the course of the movement are Our appearing before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on 28th January 2009 and our stellar role in securing one more option for pension for retirees.

Our conscious efforts to promote and retainall cadre character in our organization meting out equal treatment to all retirees whether he/she is a General Manager retiree or a part time sweeper retiree, to bring all the retirees who are not members of any retiree organization, into the movement and work in co-ordination with in-service organizations under the umbrella ofUFBU for achieving our demands has won the appreciation of retirees as well as serving employees. It has also earned us respectability with IBA as well as Government Circles.

It is worth recording here that Bank Retirees movement is distinctly different from the earlier two movements- Employees’ movement and Officers’ movement. This is the third movement. Its growth is steady and strong. As in any movement, this movement too is finding its own course, defining its goals and producing strong and capable leaders.

There are two types of retirees’ organizations in banks. There are all-cadre organizations where award-staff retirees, retired officers and executives are members. Their ideology is that after retirement, there is no difference between them. These organizations are mostly affiliated to All India Bank Retirees’ Federation (AIBRF). There are some more organizations whose membership is restricted to retired officers. These organizations are mostly affiliated to Retired Bank Officers’ National Confederation (RBONC). Both these organizations have come together under the umbrella organization United Forum of Bank Retirees’ Organisations (UFBRO). Both AIBRF as well as RBONC have affiliates in a number of Banks – AIBRF in 18 and RBONC in 12 – accounting for a total membership of around 80,000 retirees. Both these organizations are very active in representing retirees’ issues and problems before individual bank managements as well as IBA and the Govt. Both are fully exploiting the judicial forums to protect the retirees’ interest. Their role in securing 5 year weightage for VRS 2000 retirees and securing one more option for pension to the retirees is substantial and can not be ignored.

IOBRAas well as AIBRF, representing UFBRO, appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justiceon 28th January 2009, wherein IBA( represented by its CEO, Deputy CEO and Personnel officer)Dept of Banking of Ministry of Finance( represented by the Joint Secretary) and other Departments of the Govt of India, Dept of Personnel, Dept of Pensions, Dept of Public grievances and a number of M.Ps who are members of the Committee participated. We raised all the issues concerning retirees in the meeting. The issues raised are- 1.Pension Updation, 2.Sanctioning D.A.Neutralisation at 100% to retirees who retired prior to 31-10-2002.3.Payment of arrears from date of retirement to30-04-2005 and commutation difference on account of rectification of Basic pension anomaly in the 8th Bipartite in respect of post 1-04-98 and pre 01-05-2005 retirees. 4. Demand for apportioning a reasonable portion of Staff Welfare fund for retirees.5.Introduction of a uniform Hospitalisation scheme for retirees at the industry level.6. Recognition of Our organization and holding discussion with us on matters concerning retirees.7.Demand for constituting Grievance Cells in all the banks to resolve the grievances of retirees expeditiously. 8. Extension of one more option for pension that has been agreed for serving employees to all the retirees as well.

3 There was all-round sympathy for our issues among all the participants. At the end of the meeting it was announced that Second option for pension will be extended to retirees also and that IBA will advise banks to set up grievance cells to handle grievances of retirees in all banks. IBA and Dept of banking agreed to consult Retirees’ Organisations on matters concerning retirees. IBA was advised to formulate a hospitalization scheme to cover retirees and also make recommendations for allocating a reasonable portion of Staff welfare fund to retirees also. It was unanimously felt and accepted that retirees are as much part and parcel of the banks as other staff members. A mention about the Parliamentary Committee meeting will be found in the Preamble of IBA Circular No. CIR: HR&IR/GS/2008-09/3059 dated 30-03-09 advising member banks to set up grievance cells reading “IBA along with the Ministry of Finance officials had recently appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Pension, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on a representation made to the committee by the retired bank employees”.

All these facts establish that AIBRF as well as UFBRO have been successfully representing retirees’ issues before IBA as well as the Government.December 2008 - when the Triennial Conference of AIBRF was held in Chennai toApril 2010 when the Second option for pension for retirees became a reality was the period of hectic activity for both the retirees’ organizations and they moved to center stage and also drawn closer to in- service organizations. People started realizing that the Retirees’ organisations had a greater role to play in future and were seen holding potential to become a much larger and stronger organization in near future.

Come January 2011, AIBOC holds its general Council meeting. They consider the issue of mobilization of the retiree officers under the banner of AIBOC in order to consolidate their movement and ensure greater relief to them. They observe”There are a number of Retirees’/Pensioners’ Associations all over the country, not been able to resolve grievances during the last several years. Hence the Confederation should take up the task of organizing the pensioners under its banner. It also observed” The multiplicity of the organizations with no proper direction are only a hindrance for the resolution of long pending issues of the pensioners in the banking industry” Thus AIBOC floats organizations for Retiree officers by splitting existing retiree organizations. Fine logic indeed- Their stated objective will be uniting retirees, but they will divide retirees into retiree officers and non officers. Their stated objective will be to mobilize retirees under one banner, but they will be breaking existing retiree organizations.

AIBOC laments on non resolution of long pending issues. Buttwo of the major three issues namely 1. Denial of D.A.Neutralisation at 100% to retirees who retired prior to 31-10-2002 and 2. Non- Payment of arrears from date of retirement to30-04-2005 and commutation difference on account of rectification of Basic pension anomaly in the 8th Bipartite in respect of post 1-04-98 and pre 01-05- 2005 retirees, owe their origin to a period when the then General Secretary of AIBOC was the convenor of UFBU and made significant contribution in perpetrating the gross injustice on the helpless retirees. Similarly for denial of Second option for pension to OSR-VRS retirees and CRS retirees, AIBOC can not claim to be innocent as it is a signatory to the settlement.

All these make one suspect the motive of AIBOC’s move to split retirees’ movement at this juncture.

We appeal to retirees to be careful about the machinations of the new crusaders of Retirees’ cause and stay away from them.

As far as retirees of IOB are concerned, they have to be careful about the vociferous chorus that is heard now of merger of the two retiree organizations i.e.IOBRA and Arise. People who have gone out of IOBRA are welcome back to their homeland. But we have to be careful about any move to hijack IOBRA, which we have built up brick by brick with our blood, to the outfit to be created as appendage of AIBOC in the name of retirees’ Unity. We are wedded to our ideology of our being an all cadre organization and our affiliation with AIBRF/UFBRO

We have miles to go to reach our destination. Let us March on

Yours truly,

B.Ramji General Secretary 4 I. O. B. RETIREES' ASSOCIATION (Affiliated to the All India Bank Retirees' Federation) # 2, First Cross Street, Jaya Nagar, Tamabaram Sanatorium, Chennai 600 047, Phone : 044-22418692, Mobile : 94440 13417

MEMBERSHIP - CUM - BIODATA FORM

Name :

Address in Full :

Pin Code :

Phone Number : Res. : Off. :

Mobile : ......

E-mail ID : ...... Date of Birth : ...... Educational Qualification : ...... Bank Roll No. : P.P.O. No. Date of Joining the Bank : Date of Retirement ...... : Super Annuation / Voluntary / Compulsory / VRS 2000 Designation on Retirement : Branch last Worked : Whether opted for Pension : Yes / No Pension Payment Branch : Basic Pension ...... D.R...... : Whether Presently employed : Yes / No If Yes, Details : Blood Group : Brief Medical History : Contact Address : (in case of emergency) Any other relevant information :

I agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the Association, I enclose DD / Cheque for Rs. 500/- Towards Life Membership / I have already remitted the membership Fee.

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All remittance by A/c Payee Crossed Drafts / Cheque Payable at Chennai. Please note to mention P.P.O. No. In all correspondence. Life time membership Rs. 500/-.

D MEMBERSHIP Backside

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6 An Appeal “Pay back” Grows Dear Friends! We are overwhelmed by your response to our £ We request all retirees who have not yet editorial “Pay back time” that appeared in become our members to become members earlier issues of “The Veteran” and strengthen our organization. We request our members to help us by canvassing and We had received some more response from making all their friends as our members. We are attaching a membership application form some of our members in the form of foryouruse. contribution as follows. £ We request all Family Pensioners who have not yet become our members to become members Radhakrishnan 1000 and strengthen our organization. £ We request old members who had become P.Thirumoorthy 1000 members before 2008 and who have not sent P.Murari Rao 1000 latest personal data after 2008 to fill up the attached membership and bio-data form M.Kameswara Rao 1116 withoutany Cheque/DD for updating our S.Natarajan 800 record £ We request all beneficiaries (Retirees) of M.A.Eswaran 500 Second option for pension to send in their M.K.Bhaskaran 1000 donation (equal to 15 days’ Pension) by cheque / DD favouring “IOB Retirees’ Association” A.O.Bakkiam 500 £ Members are requested to remit Rs 100/- Mrs.Valli Ulaganathan 500 towards postage for posting “The Veteran” £ Members are requested to donate liberally to K.Ponnambalam 500 improve the financial position of our R.Rajagopal 1000 Association. £ Members are requested to donate Liberally S.Ganapathy Subramanian 2000 under “Pay back” scheme. H.Parasuraman 1200 Donate liberally for effective functioning. Strengthen IOBRA and AIBRF 12116

Association News

Meeting with Sri.S.Chandrasekaran- successorSri. Ravindra Kumar Gandhi took GM(PAD) on 10-03-11 over on 6th April 2011.The credit for working We have been reporting in the last few issues of out details and successfully implementing the The Veteran, about the various issues commitments given to us by his predecessor. affecting the retirees, which we have taken up We could discuss the following matters with our Management. during the meeting We are glad to inform our members that our 1. Enhancement of Ex-Gratia Amount paid representatives,Sri. J. Balasubramanian , to pre-1986 retirees and spouses of General Manager Retired, Chairman of deceased pre-1986 retirees. We had taken Chennai – 6 (Mambalam Ashok Nagar up the matter with the Chairman and Managing K.K. Nagar) Regional Council and our Director of the bank vide our letter dated 1-09- General Secretary met the General Manager 08 We had submitted that the ex-gratia paid to (Personnel)Sri. S. Chandrasekaran on 10th this category of retirees is uniform, (totaling to March 2011 and discussed these issues. Rs 2092 as at present), irrespective of the post The meeting was fruitful due to the highly held by them at the time of retirement. We positive attitude of the G M and decisions were submitted that this amount is very much arrived at as follows. As you are aware, Sri. insufficient for the retiree to maintain his family, Chandrasekaran was transferred to Delhi more so with the spiraling cost of living. immediately after our meeting and his Therefore we had requested for enhancing this

7 amount to Rs5,000/-. After working out the cost taking up with the bank to extend coverage of of the enhancement, Sri.Chandrasekaran the scheme to all retirees without agreed to get it enhanced by Rs1000/- per exception. month with effect from 01-04-11. It has We have brought to the knowledge of PAD that been implemented in June 11. Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has given a 2. Welfare Scheme for retirees- Festival ruling in a writ petition filed by VRS2000 retirees Advance. We had taken up the matter vide our of Bank of India instructing the Bank to extend Letter dated 19-11-09. We had requested the coverage of REMAS to the VRS 2000 retirees on bank to sanction festival advance to all our their attaining 60 years of age as exclusion of retirees who are getting pension from the bank, these retirees is illegal. once in a year for celebrating Festivals. The We had also written to the Executive Director on amount of advance should be equal to one 29th September 2009, for extending coverage of month’s gross pension (rounded off to nearest the scheme to all retirees. hundred) recoverable in ten equal monthly It is pertinent to note that the membership of instalments. This will be in similar lines of IOBREMAS is very low in comparison to the total festival advance given to serving members. number of retirees which has crossed 10,000. We are glad to inform you that the General With the offer of one more option to join the Manager agreed to take up the matter pension scheme to existing PF Optee retirees a with top management for sanctioning record number of about 2000 are likely to join Festival advance to retirees. the Pension scheme and almost all of them are 3. Indian Overseas Bank Retired not members of IOB REMAS. Employees Medical Assistance Scheme We requested the bank to give the new (IOBREMAS) pensioners as well as family pensioners an We append below the contents of our letter option to join the IOBREMAS. Along with them, dated 09-11-2010 addressed to the Chairman other retirees and family pensioners, who had and Managing Director on the above subject. not yet become members of IOBREMAS, also “The bank had introduced Indian Overseas should be given a chance to join the scheme. Bank Retired Employees Medical This option should also be extended to VRS2000 Assistance Scheme (forIOBREMAS) as well as CRS retirees above the age of 60. providing financial assistance to retired We also requested bank to enlarge the features employees of the bank to meet their medical of the scheme to incorporate features available expenses on 12-07-2001.The retirees were in other banks like Indian Bank, UCO Bank, given six months’ time to join the scheme. But a Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda etc. We number of retirees could not join the scheme for are ready to provide necessary inputs to the various reasons. Department, if needed. With a view to help retirees who were left out, We are glad to inform you that the General we had requested the bank to give one more Manager agreed to consider our request. option to all retirees to join the scheme and The matter is being placed before Staff make some more improvements in the scheme Welfare Committee for approval. to enlarge its coverage and make it reach more 5. Sanctioning Pension ( our letter dated retirees in a more meaningful manner. 18-01-2011) At the time of introduction of Conceding our request, one more option was Pension Scheme in the year 1995/96, retirees given to all retirees(other than VRS 2000 who had earlier retired under bank’s Voluntary retirees) to join the scheme and some Retirement scheme on health grounds had improvements were made in the scheme, in applied for joining the Pension Scheme. The bank September 2007. Since then, we have been declined the request of about ten such retirees

8 taking a stand that they can not join Pension We are glad to inform you that the scheme as their ward was given compassionate General Manager agreed to implement employment in the bank. (even though the the IBA instructions immediately Pension Scheme does not endorse this view.) 7. Issue of Identity Cards (Lt. dated This decision of the bank was challenged by 15-06-10) one of these aggrieved members Sri. P.N. We had taken up with the bank in 2006 for Balasubramaniam, in Madras High court, issuing identity card to retirees. This was where, he won the case. The appeal of the bank acceded to by the bank and identity cards were to the Supreme court was also dismissed and issued initially to the pensioners. We were given the member was sanctioned Pension with to understand that similar cards will be issued to retrospective effect. non-pensioner retirees also at the earliest. We In a sensitive matter like this, it is normally expected it to be completed and issuance of ID expected that the bank gives benefit of the court card to become an automatic practice at the decision to all the similarly placed retirees. time of retirement. But the bank did not do so for reasons best We find that this exercise became an one time known to them affair and subsequent retirees as well as non- We had requested the bank to render pensioner retirees have not been issued with I.D. Cards. We once again wrote to the bank justice to other similarly placed retirees vide our letter dated 15-06-2010 requesting and order sanctioning of pensionary them to issue Identity cards to all retirees. benefits to them with retrospective effect. We are glad to inform you that the General We are glad to inform you that the General Manager agreed to issue Identity cards to Manager agreed to examine our request all retirees and put in place systems to with an open mind. ensure that this becomes a regular affair. You will be glad to know that the bank has 6. Pensionary benefits to employees already issued the cards to all the eligible who were in service of the banks as on retirees through their pension paying 24-04-10 and died thereafter (Letter branch. We request members to contact dated 18-01-11) the branch and collect their cards. The Indian Banks Association vide its Circular 8. Issue of Fresh PPOs: No. CIR/HR & IR/G2/665/90/2010-11/2076 The Bank had refixed the Basic Pension of a dated December 21, 2010, issued certain considerable VRS retirees adding qualifying clarification in respect of pensionary benefit to service upto five years in terms of Regulation employees who died after 24-04-10. The 29(5) complying with the Supreme Court Circular clarifies “we advise that the family of judgment.Their Basic pension as well as that of the employee eligible to exercise the option who other post 1-1-98 retirees was refixed earlier died on or after 27.4.2010 shall be entitled for after the last wage revision. We had requested full pension from 27.11.2009 or from the date of the bank vide our letter dated 19-11-09 to issue retirement which ever is later till the date of fresh PPOs for all these retirees whose Basic death and family pension thereafter. They will pension was refixed. also be eligible for commutation of pension; We are glad to inform you that the General provided they comply with the terms of the Manager agreed to issue fresh P P O to settlement / Joint Note as mentioned in Para 1 retirees in all such cases and put in place above. systems to ensure that this becomes a We had requested the bank to implement the regular affair whenever there are any same and notify the beneficiaries of this modifications in Basic pension. decision. 9 9. Enhancement of Pension Loan amount: We thank Sri. S. Chandrasekaran, General We had requested for enhancement of Quantum Manager, Sri. G. Ravindrakumar Gandhi, of Pension Loan. We are glad to inform you General Manager and the other executives of that the General Manager agreed to our PAD profusely for this generous gesture. demand. On behalf of all the retirees we bless them and pray to the Almighty to grant exemplary all The bank has already enhanced this amount to round growth to “IOB, our bank” Rs.2,00,000/- and issued circular in this regard. The salient features of C.O.Circular are as 10. Setting up Grievance Cell. We had follows: taken up this matter with the bank vide our letter dated 26-06-09, which was followed up with letters dated 26-12-09, and 19-04-10, and Circular No :ADV/002/2011-12 Dated : 18-01-11. 05-04-11Issuing Dept : Retail Banking and Marketing. Earlier Circular referred : TheIndian Banks’ Association ,vide its Circular No. CIR: HR&IR/GS/2008-09/3059 ADV/16/2006-07 dated 30-06-2006 dated30-03-09 had asked member banks to Purpose of loan : For meeting any personal establish grievance cell for redressal of expenses and the endues need not be grievances of retirees. Main features of this verified. mechanism are as under: Eligibility : All pensioners 1. Grievance cell will be established at Quantum of Loan : The loan amount corporate level of banks. restricted to 10 months pension with a 2. Grievances can be submitted by individuals ceiling of Rs2.00 lakhs for those not over as well as Association of Retirees. 65 years of age and Rs.1.00 lakh for those 3. Banks have been asked to hold talks with who are over 65 years of age the representatives of retirees’ associations Repayment period : Repayable out of on periodical basis say once in a half year, so pension amount in 48 EMI for those not more that the grievances can be settled across than 65 years and 36 EMI for those over the table. 65 years We consider this as one of the milestone Interest Rate : At present under floating achievements of the retirees’ movement under rate, it is base rate+2.75% and fixed rate it is the banner ofAIBRF . It is a matter of great 11% satisfaction for us as this is a direct outcome of Security : Security not insisted. Obtention the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing of undertaking letter from the spouse or Committee on Pension, Public Grievances, other legal heirs waived for Ex-Staff Law and Justice held on 28-01-09 under the chairmanship of Dr. E.M. Sudarsana members of the bank who are drawing Nachiappan, M.P.to discuss the grievances pension from the bank raised by our organization, I.O.B. Retirees’ Association. You will find a mention of this Friends, We are happy that the General Manager meeting in the opening sentence of the above was very positive throughout the meeting. He mentioned IBA communication reading promised to consider other financial “IBA along with the Ministry of Finance demands after the working results as on officials had recently appeared before 31-03-11 is released. As per available the Parliamentary Standing Committee indications, It is likely to be extremely on Pension, Public Grievances, Law good. We will continue discussions on and Justice on a representation made to other pending issues at the earliest. the committee by the retired bank employees”.

10 We are glad to inform you that Sri. G. Ravindrakumar Gandhi, General Manager has initiated immediate steps to establish the Grievance cell in our bank. Detailed circular has since been issued. The Circular is reproduced here below: From To INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK ALL INDIAN BRANCHES/ GRIEVANCE CELL REGIONAL OFFICES PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT CENTRAL OFFICE, 762 ANNA SALAI, CHENNAI 600002 TRANSIENT SERIES ( FILE F) CIRCULAR NO.22/2011-2012 DATED 17.06.2011 GRIEVANCE CELL FOR RETIRED BANK EMPLOYEES PREAMBLE IBA and Ministry of Finance had appeared before the Parliament Standing Committee on Personnel and Public Grievances, Law and Justice based on a representation made to the committee by the Retired Bank Employees. The issue of requirement of Bank’s looking into Grievances of Retired Employees was discussed in the Management Committee of IBA. The Committee after deliberations approved the setting up of a grievance Cell at Corporate Office of the Member Banks to look into the grievances of Retired Employees on a regular basis. IBA has advised Member Banks to constitute Grievance Cell. Accordingly, we have set up a Grievance Cell at Central Office.The functional set up of Grievance Cell will be as follows. The letters/complaints received from individuals/retiree associations are classified as Grievance and Non-Grievance, depending on the nature of letters/complaints as detailed below: Grievances a) Complaints about delay or non-payment.( Payment of Pension,Payment of medical bills under REMAS ) b) Grievances of non implementation of policies, wrong interpretation of policies or improvements. Demand for new benefits/facilities/conveniences Non-Grievances a) Seeking information. b) Seeking assistance ( loss of Pension Payment Orders, Loss of I.D Cards ). To enlarge the scope of Grievance Cell and for proper handling of the same, the following specific role functions are assigned 1. Grievance cell I named as Indian Overseas Bank Retirees’ Grievance Cell 2. Letters/ Complaints received from individuals addressed to Branches/Regional Office should be redressed within 15days from the date of receipt under advice to the sender, if it is within the purview of Branches/Regional Offices. Letters received from Branches/Regional Offices addressed to Grievance Cell, C.O should be forwarded to Central Office immediately on the date of receipt. 3. Representations related to grievances submitted by individuals as well as Association of Retirees have to be in writing in the form of letter, e-mail or Fax 4. As soon as a letter is received under any of the above categories it should be acknowledged to the sender and a Grievance number should be given and sender advised that the grievance will be resolved within 15 days and under advice to the sender 5. Letters / Complaints received at Grievance Cell, C.O shall refer the matter to the Department / officials concerned for resolution of the grievance. 6. The matter referred to by the Grievance cell will be attended to on priority basis and the grievance will be resolved by the concerned official within 7 to 15 working days 7. On receipt of reply from the Department/officials at Central Office, the Grievance cell in-charge will satisfy himself that the grievance has been satisfactorily resolved by the concerned departments/officials. If it is not satisfactory, he will immediately escalate the matter to General Manager (PAD) Central Office for resolution 8. The sender will be advised of resolution of the grievance after making necessary entries 9. The grievance cell at Central Office will conduct a meeting with the representatives of Retirees Association appraising them of the activities of the cell during the year. The meeting will be presided over by General Manager(PAD), Central Office 10.All departments in Central Office/ Regional Offices/ Branches should handle relevant grievances of retirees with utmost consideration with objective to ensure that not attending the issue itself should not result in another grievance. The grievances should be attended to sympathetically with helping tendencies. 11.This may be brought to the notice of all Indian Overseas Bank Staff Pensioners informing them of a separate Grievance Cell at Central Office functioning at the following address: INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK RETIREES GRIEVANCE CELL PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION DEPERTMENT Central Office, 762 Anna Salai, Chennai 600002. Ph : 044-2851 9644, Fax : 044-2851 4911, E-mail : [email protected] ( G.R.GANDHI ) GENERAL MANAGER

11 Pension Payment toIOBPensioners Chennai-4 Regional Council welcomed the gathering We had reported in the previous issue of the and Sri.K.M.Ramanathan Regional Secretary Veteran that the First of January is a bank holiday Chennai-1 Regional Council compered the in Tamil Nadu where our Central Office is situated, proceedings of the meeting. and the Second of January was a Sunday, as per Com.B.Ramji, General Secretary IOBRA detailed the the prevalent practice, the pension was to be latest developments in respect of retirees matters. credited only on 03-01-11. Acceding to our He narrated the details of the outcome of our request, the pension for the month of December meeting with General Manager Sri. was credited to the pensioners accounts on the S. Chandrasekharan on 10-03-11, wherein favourable decisions were taken on a number of New year day i.e. 01-01-11. matters pertaining to retirees. We had been requesting our management to credit Our Regional Office-bearers and members present in pension on the last working day of the month for the meeting wanted to know about our Associations’ which the pension is credited. We had pointed out stand on the matter of unifying ARISE as well as in our letter dated 20th April 2010 that” there are IOBRA. He recalled in brief the history of IOBRA and many categories of pensioners whose pension is the purpose for which ARISE was formed. He credited in the last week of the month itself. In the narrated how, during our last Triennial Conference In case of Public sector banks, banks like Bank of 2008 he approached ARISE through IOBOA and India, and Central Bank of India, are paying requested them to come back to IOBRA which they pension to their pensioners on the last working split to form ARISE. They did not at all respond at day of the monthitself . that time. Subsequently also they were continuing Therefore, we requested the bank to change the their activities as a rival organization. Mr.Ramji present system and start paying pension to our narrated the decision of AIBOC to split the bank pensioners on the last working day of the retirees Movement by promoting an exclusive monthitself . organization for retiree officers. It is against this background the anxiety of ARISE to merge with We are glad to inform you that the bank paid IOBRA to be viewed. Our ideological commitment to pension for the month of May 2011 on the 31st run our Association as an All cadre organization and May itself and has decided to make payment of our affiliation with AIBRF/UFBRO has to be cherished Pension in the ensuing months on the last and preserved at all costs. The scheming move to day of the month for which pension is paid. hijack our organization to AIBOC will be resisted- We thank ourCMD Sri.M.Narendra and GM said our GS. The entire audience unanimously PersonnelSri.G.Ravindra Kumar Gandhi , for approved the principled stand taken by our this act of love and affection for the retirees. Association. The following members who have crossed 70 years New Pension Optees: Deduction of tax at of age were felicitated:- 1. Sri. T.R. Venkataraman, source: 2. Sri. S.S. Sundaram, 3. Sri. E.T. Sankaran Kutty, We had written to the bank on21-03-11 requesting 4. Sri. M.K. Narayanan, 5. Sri. R. Srinivasan them to treat the amount deposited by the new (Vigilance Dept. Retired) 6. Sri. T. Surendran and pension optees, i.e 2.8 times of the revised salary for 7. Sri. R. Ramadurai the month of November 2007 recovered from serving Sri.P.K.Shantaram Regional Secretary Chennai-4 employees as well as the additional contribution of Regional Council Proposed vote of thanks 56% of the bank’s contribution of P F. deposited by the retirees at the time of opting for Pension as Kolkata Regional Council contribution to Approved Superannuation Fund Quarterly meeting (Pension Fund) to enable them to avail of deduction under section 80C (2) (vii) of the The Kolkata Regional Council conducted its quarterly Income Tax Act1961. meeting on 05-03-11. The meeting was well attended. The P.F.Optee retiree members who Chennai 1, Mylapore - Triplicane Regional exercised their option and got their pension Council and Chennai 4, Adyar, Besant Nagar, sanctioned under one more option shared their Tiruvanmiyur Regional Council joint meeting happiness. Their grievances pertaining to mistakes A meeting of the members attached to our in their PPOs were listed out for rectification. Chennai 1 and Chennai 4 regions was held in Annual General Council Meeting Vivekananda Hall at P.S.Higher Secondary Our Kolkata Regional Council conducted its Annual School.on25th April 2011 Sri.V.S.T.Kumaraswamy, General Council meeting on 12-06-11 at Regional Our Founder Vice-President Presided over the office Kolkata. Sri.B.Ramji General Secretay IOBRA meeting. Sri.T.R.Venkataraman, Chairman of our participated and detailed the various developments

12 at our organizational level and at the industry level. The Regional Council is constituted with the following He gave details of decisions taken in our meeting members with GM(PAD) Sri.S.Chandrasekaran on 10-03-11 Sri.R.Venkateswaran Chairman- 94865 03688 where positive decisions were taken on a number of Sri.M.Muthu Secretary-93455 04035 matters resulting in benefits to retirees Sri.M.A.Shanmugam Member - 94430 16938 Our Regional Office-bearers and members present in Sri.V.Chellapandi Member - 94867 28828 the meeting wanted to know about our Associations’ Sri.N.Panchatcharam Member -94430 28538 stand on the matter of unifying ARISE as well as Sri.S.Shanmuganathan Member -94433 05596 IOBRA. Mr.Ramji narrated the decision of AIBOC to Sri.V.Balakrishnan Member -99449 34430 split the bank retirees Movement by promoting an Sri.S.Piramanayagam Member -94430 81463 exclusive organization for retiree officers. It is Sri.N.Narayanan Member -94437 74839 against this background the anxiety of ARISE to merge with IOBRA to be viewed. Our ideological Palakkad Regional Council : Meeting of commitment to run our Association as an All cadre 24th April 2011 organization and our affiliation with AIBRF/UFBRO The quarterly meeting of Palakkad Regional Council has to be cherished and preserved at all costs. The was held on 24-04-11. Sri.M.Radhakrishnan, member move to hijack our organization to AIBOC will be of our Chennai -1 Regional council was the chief resisted- said our GS. The entire audience guest. Sri.M.B.Chandran presided over the meeting. unanimously approved the principled stand taken by Convenor Sri.G.Chandran conducted the meeting. our Association. Sri.M.K.Vasudevan, who has crossed 70 years of age The Annual report for the year 2010 as well as was honoured.Sri P. Aravindakshan & C Accounts for the same period were presented and Ramachandran (both Committee Members) Spoke approved. the problems faced by Retirees. The following members who had completed 70 years Sri M Radhakrishnan, in his key note address were honoured; Sri.Ajit Kumar Basu, Sri.Nirmal explained in detail the difficulties faced because of the Chakraborty, Sri.Ashim Kumar Das, Sri.Kashinath rival association, ARISE. He also stressed that Dey and Sri.Nirmal Kumar Goswami number of persons attending the meeting is The following members were elected to the Regional important, but more important is their INVOLVEMENT Council for the year 2011: Sri. P V Parameswaran, Retd A G M, who was on the Sri.G.C.Basu, President 9830467468 Dias released the much awaited Address Book of I O B Sri. Robin Ganguly, Jt.Convenor 9830827050 R A- Palakkad Unit and presented first copy to Mr. M B Sri.D.K.Bhaumik, Jt.Convenor 8013316837 Sri.Tapan Maitra, Member 9831222957 Chandran.Copies were given to all the members Sri.Tapan Roy, Member 26412897 present, By Mr G Chandran. Sri.Amiya Banerjee Member 9674374796 Convener Mr G Chandran, read the minutes and Sri.Harendra Nath Mandal, Member 9432331773 accounts of the last meeting, which was approved Sri.Mohinimohan Das Adhikary, Member unanimously, by the sadas. 9831941462 The meeting concluded with the Vote of thanks by Mr Sri.P.K.Bagchi G Chandran, Convener.

Madurai Regional Council inaugurated. Meeting of 17th July 2011 Our Madurai Regional Council was inaugurated on The quarterly meeting of Palakkad Regional Council 18-02-11 at Madurai.. was held on 17th July 2011.Sri.M.B.Chandran presided Sri. R.Venkateswaran, Retd DGM presided over the over the meeting. Sri.T.R.Gopalakrishnan was also on meeting. Sri. M.Muthu Retd. D.G.M welcomed the the dais.Mr.C.Ramachandra varrier welcomed the gathering and detailed the latest developments in gathering.Mr.Mohan Ram.C.Menon Legal Advisor matters of interest to retirees especially the second spoke on the need for leaving a will and how to option for pension to retirees. Sri. B.Ramji General prepare a will. Sri. G.Chandran, Regional Secretary Secretary IOBRA inaugurated the Regional Council and spoke on pending issues. addressed the members appraising them of the latest Sri.S.Jagannathan, Regional Secretary, Coimbatore developments. Sri. C.Muthiah offered his felicitations. Regional council informed members on latest Sri. V.Balakrishnan proposed vote of thanks. developments. He gave details of decisions taken in The following members who had crossed 70 years of our meeting with GM(PAD) Sri.S.Chandrasekaran on age were felicitated: Sri. O. Natarajan Chettiyar, 10-03-11 where positive decisions were taken on a Sri. C. Muthiah, Sri. K. Ponnambalam, number of matters resulting in benefits to retirees. Sri. S.V.R. Venkatachalam, Sri. K. Velu Maharajan Sri.G.Chandran proposed vote of thanks and Sri. Rm. Viswanathan

13 Hyderabad Regional Council New Pension Scheme introduced A meeting of members attached to Hyderabad Regional Council was held on 03-04-11 at You are aware that in terms of the Memorandum Hyderabad. Sri.T.Venkata Reddy, Retd G.M. presided of Settlement dated 27.04.2010 signed by Indian over the meeting. Sri.B.Ramji General Secretary Banks Association with representative Workmen IOBRA participated and detailed the various Unions and Joint Note dated 27.04.2010 signed developments. He gave details of decisions taken in with representative Officers’ Organisations, our meeting with GM(PAD) Sri.S.Chandrasekaran on employees joining the services of Banks on or 10-03-11 where positive decisions were taken on a after 1st April 2010 shall be eligible for the number of matters resulting in benefits to retirees Defined Contributory Pension Scheme the The following members who had crossed 70 years banks will be introducing for them. were honoured: 1. Sri.I.Bhaskara Rao 2.Sri.S.V.Ramakrishna The Defined Contributory Pension Scheme 3. Sri.M.Kameshwra Rao proposed to be introduced for them will be one as 4. Sri.M.Srirama Rao 5. Sri.V.V.G.K.Murthy governed by the provisions of New Pension 6. Sri.S.Udayachala Rao System introduced for employees of Central 7. Sri.A.Ramanatha Rao 8. Sri.A.Sundara Raj Government w.e.f. 1st January 2004 and as 9. Sri.V.V.Sarma modified from time to time. The Scheme shall be 10. Sri.R.Venkateswarulu 11. Sri.K.V.P.Sastry regulated and administered by the Pension Fund 12. Srimati.S.R.Ramesh Kumar. Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Salem Regional Council Inaugurated There shall be no separate Provident Fund for The inaugural meeting of our Salem Regional Council employees joining services of the Bank on or was held on 03-07-11 at Salem.Sri.T.R.Nagaswamy, after 01.04.2010. The employees joining the retired DGM presided over the meeting. services on or after 01.04.2010 shall contribute Sri.N.Vijayaraghavan Regional Secretary of our 10% of the pay and dearness allowance Chennai 2 Region welcomed the gathering. Sri.S.Jagannathan Regional Secretary IOBRA towards the Defined Contributory Pension addressed the members on the achievements of our Scheme and the bank shall make a matching Association, more particularly, the one more option contribution in respect of these employees. for pension for retirees Sri.B.Ramji General IBA has now sent their circular dated 6.7.2011 Secretary IOBRA addressed the members detailing advising the Banks to introduce the New Pension the latest developments and inaugurated the Scheme based on the scheme devised by the Regional Council. He narrated the action plan chalked out by AIBRF for achieving our demands PFRDA for the Government Sector and to choose the Government Sector Pension Fund The following members who had crossed 70 years Managers. were honoured Sri. T.R. Nagaswamy, Sri. B.S. Barkhatullah, Sri. B.G. Ramamurthy, Sri. K.N. AIOBEU launches NUBE Ramamurthy. Sri. M.A. Easwaran, Sri. M.V. Old timers in Bank employees’ trade union Jayaraman, Sri. C. Tanikachalam and Sri. K.G. movement, especially in Indian Overseas Bank Krishnan remember the contribution of AIOBEU in building up apolitical trade union movement in banking industry. The Salem Regional Council will consist of the It was in this process, the first Bank employees’ following members: central trade union, National Union of Bank Sri.T.R.Nagaswamy Chairman 9250033820 Employees was formed way back in 70s. With State Sri.B.G.Ramamurthy Secretary 9150413578 Bank employees joining, it later on became NCBE. Sri.B.S.Barkhatullah Member -9842816692 Due to organizational differences, AIOBEU decided Sri.V.Jayakumar Member -Namakkal to part ways with NCBE and launch a new Central Sri.P.Rajendran Member -99445 10335 Trade Union Organisation named National Union of Sri.A.Singaravelu Member _94439 34501 Bank Employees. Apart from AIOBEU, there are Sri.R.Kandaswamy Member -9443244052 some more banks in it. Com.L.Balasubramanian, Sri.M.Manickam Member -9442958658 President AIOBEU has been elected its General Sri.M.Munuswamy Member —9362026625 Secretary. Nube has already been registered and has Sri.M.Chandrasekaran Member 98942 34001 been invited to appear before Central Labour Sri.T.M.Thangavelu Member -9443479864 Commission for conciliation on the strike notice Sri.R.Srinivasan Member -99245449592 issued for strike on 05-08-11. We wish NUBE all luck Sri.A.Michaelraj Member — 9443219853 and success.

14 FEDERATION NEWS

Office-bearers meeting of AIBRF II PHASE OF AGITATION: A meeting of the office-bearers of AIBRF was held in As per the II Phase of agitation, it has been proposed Lonawala on 05-03-2011 and reviewed the progress to write post-cards to the Finance Minister drawing made in the First phase of Agitational programme his attention on the pending demands of bank and chalk out the second phase of agitational retirees. Each and every retiree shall write a post programme. card to the Finance Minister. This exercise is to be done between 15th and 30 th June. Out of the total AGITATIONAL PROGRAMME LAUNCHED BY membership of over 35,000, AIBRF expects atleast AIBRF 10,000 retirees shall write post cards. The post All India Bank Retirees’ Federation to whom we are cards are to be written in one’s own handwriting. affiliated, have launched agitational programme in This alone will create the desired impact. The retiree phases to draw the attention of the concerned should write his/her residential address at the end of authorities on the long pending demands of the bank the message. The post card should be sent to the retirees. They are: following address: 1. Pension updation on the pattern of 6TH Pay Mr Pranab Kumar Mukeerjee Commission Hon’ble Minister for Finance 2. 100 percent DA neutralization to pre 2002 Government of India retirees 13 Talkatora Road, NEW DELHI 110 001. 3. Uniform Medical Scheme for retirees 4. Two percent of bank profit should be allocated for We give below the text of the message to be written Welfare of bank retirees on the post card. 5. One more option for pension should be given to all past retirees who are originally eligible as per I, senior citizen and Bank retiree, demand provisions of Pension Regulation 1995 immediate resolution of long pending 6. Differentiation between retirees and resignees demands of pension updation, should be removed for pension option improvement on family pension, 7. Establishment of proper grievance redressal improvement in ex-gratia amount to pre mechanism for retirees in all Banks 1986 retirees, 100% DA neutralization to 8. Index based dearness rates should be granted to pre 2002 retirees, uniform medical retirees on quarterly basis along with serving scheme etc. I humbly request you to ask employees instead of six monthly basis. IBA & Banking Division officials to discuss 9. Improvement in Ex-gratia amount payable to pre these demands with representatives of 1986 retirees retirees for immediate solution. With respectful regards, I PHASE OF AGITATION – SUBMISSION OF MEMORANDUM: The third phase of agitation includes Press Under the I phase, AIBRF had already submitted conferences, press release and interaction with Memorandum to Sri Pranab Kumar Mukerjee, media at maximum number of centers . Hon’ble Finance Minister, other Central Ministers, Dharna/Relay Hunger strike at large number of Members of Parliament, Chairmen of all Banks, IBA centers will be the fourth phase of agitation. We authorities and leaders of the United Forum of Bank shall let you know the details in due course. Unions. We in the IOBRA took responsibility for and duly SUPPORT FROM UNITED FORUM OF BANK submitted the memorandum to Sri.M.Narendra, UNIONS: NATIONAL CONVENTION Chairman and Managing Director Indian Overseas The National Convention was convened by UFBU in Bank, Sri.T.M.Bhasin, Chairman and Managing the context of the increasing attempts to expedite Director, Indian Bank, Com.C.H.Venkatachalam, banking sector reforms, to outsource permanent and Convenor UFBU and General Secretary AIBEA, perennial banking jobs and services, to foist the Com.R.J.Sridharan, General Secretary AIBOA and retrograde recommendations of Khandelwal Com.L.Balasubramanian, who was Chairman of Committee Report and the inordinate delay in NCBE at that time. We were assured of active support resolving the important issues of the bank by all the above mentioned ospitaliza employees and officers.

15 The Convention was presided over by the following Com. M. S. Upadhyay from General Insurance leaders :- Employees’ All India Association, Com. Bhatnagar Com. Rajen Nagar, AIBEA,Com. K.D.Khera, from All India Insurance Employees’ Association and AIBOC,Com. Milind Nadkarmi, NCBE, Com. N.S.Virk, Mr. S.C. Jain from All India Bank Retirees Federation AIBOA,Com. Ramesh Babu, BEFI, greeted our convention and extended their support. Com.B.S.Gill,INBEF, Com. K.K.Nair, INBOC,Com. Main Issues and Demands :- Dinesh Kulkarni, NOBW,Com. A.N.Madhusudan, NOBO. 1. Do not privatise Public Sector Banks Com. C.H. Venkatachalam, Convenor, explained the 2. Do not reduce Government’s equity in seriousness of the issues before the bank employees Public Sector Banks and presented the Declaration proposing an All India 3. Do not avail World Bank Loan to capitalise Agitation & Strike on 7th July, 2011. Com. G.D. Nadaf Public Sector Banks (AIBOC) seconded the Declaration. 4. Do not proceed with merger of Banks Leaders of the UFBU constituent unions spoke in including the Associate Banks with SBI. support of the Declaration and appealed for 5. Do not allow unrestricted entry of foreign capital in banking sector. successful implementation of the programmes. 6. Do not delete Section 12(2) of Banking From our side, the Convention was attended by Shri Regulations Act S.C.Jain, General Secretary, D.P.Gupta, Deputy 7. Do not remove the ceiling on voting rights General Secretary, P.S.L.Haragopal, Vice President, of foreign investors. M.S.Chourey, Treasurer of All India Bank Retirees’ 8. Do not issue licence to industrial houses to Federation, besides 25 other activists. start their own Banks. In the said convention, AIBRF pledged full support to 9. Do not outsource permanent banking jobs the UFBU’s agitation and long pending issues of and normal banking services 10. Do not proceed with the scheme of private retired bank employees were effectively highlighted. business correspondents Most of the speakers from UFBU have concern on 11. Do not violate provisions of Bipartite retirees’ issues and expressed happiness on the Settlement on outsourcing presence of retirees in the convention of serving 12. Provide adequate staff in Banks through bank employees. recruitments to maintain and improve We are happy to inform that the Declaration adopted customer services. by the Convention unanimously included Retirees’ 13. Revive BSRBs for recruitment of staff in Demands like improvement in Pension Scheme, Public Sector Banks. 100% D.A.Neutralisation, Improvement in Family 14.Implement the compassionate appointment / financial compensa-tion Pension, Ex-gratia payment etc. As such, our scheme as ospitali between IBA & UFBU. National Organisation All India Bank Retirees’ 15. Issue revised uniform guidelines on house Federation has called upon its affiliated Units to building loan, vehicle loan and festival wholeheartedly participate with our banner in the advance to bank staff. UFBU programmes all over the country. 16. Implement 5 day banking In view of the above, we call upon our functionaries at 17. Regulate and define working hours of bank all levels to contact local UFBU representatives and officers. ensure that our retirees participate in the 18. Improve Pension Scheme in banking demonstrations during 21 – 25.06.2011, Badge sector on the lines of Central Government Scheme – updation of Pension along with Wearing on 30-06-2011, Mass Rally on 04-07-2011 wage revision of in service employees, and strike action on 07-07-2011 being ospitali by the uniform D.A. neutralization, improvement State Level/District Level UFBU in State in commutation, Family Pension, Ex-Gratia Capitals/District Centres across the country and make of pre – 1986 retirees, etc. the agitation programme a resounding success. 19. Withdrawal of Government’s arbitrary instructions to Banks not to Support from Central Trade Unions :- improve/amend any service condition The following leaders of the Central Trade Unions without their permission. took part in our convention. Scrap Khandelwal Committee Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, President, INTUC, Recommendations. Com. Gurudas Dasgupta, General Secretary, AITUC,Com. B.N.Rai, General Secretary, BMS,Com. All India Bank Strike slated for 7th July A.K.Padmanabhan, President, CITU, C o m . postponed to 5th August 2011 Umraomal Purohit, General Secretary, HMS 16 100% DA neutralization to all the retirees atleast AIBEA writes to Finance Minister on from a prospective date. Grievances of Bank retirees 4. While the in-service employees get DA variation on quarterly basis, for retirees, DA on Pension is We reproduce here below a letter dated 25th May paid on half yearly basis. This needs to be 2011 written byAIBEA to the Hon'ble Minister of changed to quarterly basis for retirees also. Finance Shri. Pranab Mukherjee 5. Under the 6th Pay Commission Report, there are improvements in the rate of pension for very Dear Sir, aged senior citizens, in the commutation of pension, eligibility service to get full pension, etc Reg : Grievances of Bank Retires for the Government pensioners and these need The All India Bank Retirees Federation and to be extended to the bank retirees too. United Forum of Bank Retirees Organisation 6. It is also experienced that the quantum of Family have been representing to the Government and Pension is very inadequate and this requires a Indian Banks Association to redress some of their sympathetic approach from the Government to genuine grievances and demands but with no effect revise the same suitably. so far. You are well aware that the Pension Scheme 7. Since the Pension Scheme was introduced in the evolved and introduced in the Banks is exactly on the Banks from 1.1.1986, the pre-1986 retirees are lines of Central Government Pension Scheme and being given a Ex Gratia of Rs.300 per month + hence some of the improvements that have been DA and their widows are being paid a fixed incorporated in the Government Pension Scheme lumpsum Ex Gratia of Rs.1000 per month. consequent to the 6th Pay Commission need to be These pre-1986 retirees are aged 85 years and extended to the bank retirees also. The recent above and are very few in number, may be extension of one more option to join the Pension around 6000 persons in the entire banking Scheme has brought great relief to number of retired sector. Considering their age, ill-health, etc. the employees and officers who are today covered by the Government should kindly increase the Ex Gratia Pension Scheme and we are thankful to the amount. Government for the same. 8. There are number of grievances of the retirees at But the following issues of the bank retirees deserve the Bank Level regarding delay in sanction of the special attention of the Government and your Pension, delay in disbursements, etc. and hence sympathetic consideration. Government / IBA should give proper guidelines 1. For the Government employees, on occasions of to all Banks to put in place a regulated salary revision, pension revision is also given mechanism to redress these grievances. This and accordingly their pension is updated. But in will help in avoiding / reducing litigations, etc. on the case of bank retirees, the Pension remains the part of the retirees. static as sanctioned at the time of their 9. Government has already advised the Banks to retirement and does not undergo any change set apart a portion of the amount allocated for thereafter. The periodical updation of pension Staff Welfare from the Net Profit of the Banks along with salary revision of in-service towards ospitaliz the retirees. Still it is not being employees is very genuine and fair expectation, implemented properly. Hence Government may especially when the same is available to the consider advising the Banks to set apart an Government employees. uniform percentage of funds from out of the 2. Since their pension is fixed based on their pay at profits towards Welfare Schemes for the retirees. the time of their retirement, there are currently 10. The in-service employees are entitled to 5 different price index (600, 1148, 1684, 2288 & reimbursement of medical expenses on 2836) on which DA is paid to the retirees occasions of ospitalization but after retirement, depending upon their period of retirement i.e. 1- the retirees are not covered by such facilities. In 1-86 to 31-10-92, 1-11-92 to 31-3-98, 1-4-98 the context of ever increasing cost of medical to 31-10-2002, 1-11-2002 to 31-10-2007 and treatment, retirees become extremely from 1-11-2007 onwards. Their pension needs vulnerable when they fall ill and hence some to be adjusted and upgraded to a common price uniform medical expenses reimbursement index by merging the DA upto that level . This scheme needs to be made available to them. will bring in uniformity of indexing the Pension of These are some of the important grievances and the retirees. demands of the bank retirees. We request you to 3. In payment of DA, after introduction of 100% take a positive view of their grievances and advise neutralization against price rise from 1.11- necessary steps to be taken by the Government / IBA 2002, those who have retired after this date are in this regard. being given 100% neutralization for price rise Thanking you, while the past retirees continue to be paid DA on Yours faithfully, a tapering basis with 4 slab formula of the earlier C.H.VENKATACHALAM system. There is a genuine need to extend GENERAL SECRETARY

17 Tamil Nadu Bank Retirees’ Federation Formed NO Income tax Return An adhoc committee of Tamilnadu Bank Retirees’ Federation, representing bank retirees located in The Central Government has exempted the state of Tamilnadu and Union territory of individuals whose total income for the relevant Puduchery has been formed with the objective of assessment year does not exceed five lakhs of bringing together all the bank retirees of this part of Rupees and consists of only income chargeable the country on one platform so that we can work to income tax under the heads salaries/other effectively for achieving our long pending demands. sources from the requirement of furnishing a return of income under sub-section (1) of section Sri.A.K.Narasimhulu,President CBRA has been 139 of Income tax Act for the Assessment year elected President,Sri.S.Velayoudam, General 2011-12 vide Notification No. 36/2011 Secretary AIIBRA has been elected Secretary and [F. NO. 142/09/2011 (TPL)], Dt 23-6-2011. Sri.B.Ramamurthy, Secretary UBRA has been elected Treasurer of TNBRF.Sri.S.Srinivas Kumar, General Secretary, BOBRA, Sri.S.V.Srinivasan, Sri.G.Ravindra Kumar Gandhi takes General Secretary AICBRF, Sri.B.Ramji, Vice- over as General Manager (Personnel) President AIBRF and General Secretary Sri.G.Ravindra Kumar Gandhi has taken over IOBRA,Sri.A.Ramakrishna General Secretary as General Manager(Personnel) from 6th April UCOBRA and Sri.T.Selvaraj, General Secretary 2011. With his abundant love for fellow IOBians LVBRO were co-opted as Committee members. It and respect and affection for retirees, Mr.Gandhi was decided to have the foundation Conference and has come to the right place. We are happy to inauguration of TNBRF in September 2011 at welcome him to the new assignment Chennai. As a prelude to the state level foundation We wish him success in all his endeavours conference, the Ad-hoc committee decided to organize all bank retirees’ convention at important centres of the state. This decision was implemented IOB crosses business mix of and conventions were organized in Pondicherry on Rs 2,50,000 crores 08 -06-2011, Salem on 03-07-11, Coimbatore on 04-07-11, Trichy on 11-07-11 and Madurai on 26- We are thrilled to know that our bank has 07-11. The conventions were marked by crossed business mix of Rs2,50,000/- crores enthusiastic and emotion packed participation of an this year ending 31-03-11 and Rs.2,70,000/- for overwhelming number of retirees in the respective the quarte ending30-06-11. The credit for this centres. The success of the conventions have spectacular achievement goes to convinced us that our movement has taken roots and Sri.M.Narendra, Chairman and Managing Director for infusing the team spirit in the bound to scale new heights. IOBians and leading them past this goal post of AIBRF Central Committee meets glory. AIBRF central Committee meeting is slated for 17th We extend our greetings to Sri.M.Narendra, and 18th September and scheduled to be held in and all the members of the IOB family Mangalore

IOB’s hat trick plus

History has been created in IOB One of our long to the guidance provided and relentless work put in cherished desires has come true. by our Chairman and Managing Director In the recent interview to select persons to be Sri.M.Narendra. We Congratulate him on this posted as Executive Directors in Public sector Banks, achievement three of our General Managers, i.e We Congratulate the trio Sri.M.S.Raghavan, Sri.M.S.Raghavan, Sri.S.Chandrasekaran ( who Sri.S.Chandrasekaran and Sri.Satyanarayan was GM Personnel till recently)and Misra and wish them all success. Friends! You Sri.Satyanarayan Misra have been short listed for have made us proud. We appeal to you to be selection and posting as Executive Directors in sympathetic to the cause of retirees in the various banks. banks where you will be serving. All the three have enough years of service to move We are also elated to know that Smt.Nupur up and get posted as Chairman and Managing Mitra has been elevated to head Dena bank as Directors the Chairman and Managing Director and will be This historic achievement has become possible due joining the bank very soon. We congratulate her on this well deserved elevation

18 Bank Pass Book

It was the weddingof Priya and Hitesh. At the end of regretted that they had married the most nasty the wedding party, Piya’s mother gave her a newly people in the world.... no more love... One day Priya opened bank saving passbook With Rs.1000 deposit talked to her Mother: ‘Mom, we can’t stand it amount. anymore. We agree to divorce. I can’t imagine how I Mother: Priya, take this passbook. Keep it as a record decided to marry this guy!!!’ of your marriage life. When there’s something happy Mother: ‘Sure, girl, that’s no big deal. Just do and memorable happened in your new life, put some whatever you want if you really can’t stand it. But money in. Write down what it’s about next to the line. before that, do one thing first. Remember the saving The more memorable the event is, the more money passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out you can put in. I’ve done the first one for you today. all money and spend it first. You shouldn’t keep any Do the others with Hitesh. When you look back after record of such a poor marriage.’ years, you can know how much happiness you’ve Priya thought it was true. So she went to the bank, had.’ waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the Priya shared this with Hitesh when getting home. They account. While she was waiting, she took a look at the both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to passbook record. She looked, and looked, and know when the second deposit can be made. looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and This was what they did after certain time: happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then 615. 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for filled with tears. She left and went home. When she Hitesh after marriage was at home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, 616. 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Priya asked him to spend the money before getting 617. 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali divorce. 618. 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Priya got pregnant The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Priya. 619. 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted She found a new deposit of Rs.5000. And a line next to .... and so on... the record: ‘This is the day I noticed how much I’ve However, after years, they started fighting and loved you thru out all these years. How much arguing for trivial things. They didn’t talk much. They happiness you’ve brought me.’ They hugged and cried.

PERSONAL

· Our member Smt. Sudha Santhosh Kumar · Our memberSri. S.Kannappan celebrated celebrated the marriage of her daughter the marriage of his sonChi. K.Ganesh with Sow. Nanditha Santoshwith Chi. Aumbarish Sow. Gayathriin Chennai on 21-03-11 V. Athreyain Chennai on 24-01-11 · Our memberMr. Salahudeeen , celebrated the · Our memberSri.P.Cheenu Mohan celebrated marriage of his daughter Thaiyuba Nilofer with the marriage of his daughter Selvi. Hassan Mohideenin Eruvadi on 8th May 2011 M. Meenakshiwith Selvan. M. Karthik in · Sri. P. Andiyappan, our member celebrated the Kothamangalam on 07-02-11 marriage of his sonDr. A. Arun Prasath with · Our MemberSri. S. Ramaswamy celebrated Dr. R. Madhuvanthi on 22-05-11 at Trichy the marriage of his son Chi. R. Lakshmi · Sri. V.R. Balasubramanian, our member Narasimhan@Mohanwith Sow. Sukanya in celebrated the marriage of his daughter Coimbatore on 16-02-2011 Sow.Priyawith Chi.S.Praveen on 15-05-11 at · Our MemberSri. R. Murugan celebrated the Chennai marriage of his daughter Sow. M Aishwarya · Sri.Seshadri, formerly of West Mambalam withChi. K. Arunkumar in Chennai on 23-02- branch and VRS 2000 retiree, celebrated his 11 Shashtiabdapoorthi on 9th June 2011 in · Our Member Sri. S. Balachandran Chennai celebrated the marriage of his son · Sri. R. Masilamani, our member celebrated Chi. Venkatesh@Kannan with Sow. Jyotsna the marriage of his sonChi. M. Srinivas with in Bangalore on 21-03-11 Sow R.Sasikalain Chennai on 29-06-11 · Our Member Sri. Gokul Chandra Das · Our memberSri. N. Lakshmanan celebrated celebrated the marriage of his daughter the marriage of his grandson Selvan Chellappan Sow. Manisha Daswith Chi. Palash Kole in withSelvi. Mangaiyarkkarasi@Nithya on Kolkata on 07-03-11 10-07-11 at Devakottai · Our member Smt. Syamala Viswanathan · Our member Sri. N.V. Subramanian celebrated the marriage of her celebrated the marriage of his son Chi. daughterSow. Vaishnavi with Dr. N.S. Vishwanathwith Sow. N.V. Vidhya Chi. Vanjinathan@Karthik in Chennai on on 3rd July 11 at Palakkad 23-02-11 We greet all concerned on this happy occasion

19 D.R Payable from August 2011 to January 2012

We are pleased to inform you that there has been an increase of 27 slabs of Dearness Relief payable from February 2011 to July 2011 pensioners, family pensioners and ex-gratia pensioners. The details are: Retired on or after 01 01 86 Retired on or after 01 11 92 / Retired on or after 01 04 98 but before 01 11 92 / 01 07 93 01 07 93 but Before 31 03 98 but before31 10 2002 Over CPI 600 Slabs 919 Over CPI 1148 Slabs 782 Over CPI 1684 Slabs 648 Basic PensionAmount Basic Pension Amount Basic Pension Amount

Upto Rs. 1250 615.73% Upto Rs. 2400 273.70% Upto Rs. 3550 155.52% Rs.7696.62 Rs.6568.80 Rs.5520.96 Rs.1251 - Plus 505.45% Rs.2401 - Plus 226.78% Rs.3551- Plus 129.60% Rs.2000 in excess of Rs.3850 in excess of Rs.5650 in excess of Rs.1250/- Rs.2400/- Rs.3550/- Rs.11487.49 Rs.9857.11 Rs.8242.56 Rs.2001 - Plus 303.27% Rs.3851 - Plus 132.94% Rs.5651- Plus 77.76% Rs.2130 in excess of Rs.4100 in excess of Rs.6010 in excess of Rs.2000.00 Rs.3850/- Rs.5650/- Rs.11881.74 Rs.10189.46 Rs.8522.49 Above Plus 156.23% Above Plus 70.38% Above Plus 38.88% Rs.2130 in excess of Rs.4100 in excess of Rs.6010 in excess of Rs.2130/- Rs.4100/- Rs.6010/-

Retired on or after 01-11-2002 but before 1-11-2007 Retired on or after 01 11 2007 Over CPI 2288 Slabs 497 Over CPI 2836 Slabs 360 Rate of 89.46 % of entire Rate of 54% of entire Dearness Relief Basic Pension Dearness Relief Basic Pension

RATE OF DEARNESS RELIEF PAYABLE ON EX-GRATIA TO EMPLOYESS RETIRED PRIOR TO 01 01 1986 and their spouses SLABS RATE TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE 919 615.73% on Rs.300 Rs.300/- plus Rs.1847.19 - i.e. Rs.2147.19 + Rs.1000 = 3147.19

OBITUARY

Sri.R.V.Srinivasan, former E.C.member of IOBRA Sri.S.S.Sundaram our member expired in Chennai expired on05-06-2011 at Kovilpatti on 02-07-11 Sri.B.Ramaswamy Iyer our member expired in K. Renganathan, VRS Retiree IOB, expired in Nagercoil on25-01-11 Chennai S.N.Soni, Retired Executive Director of our bank R.G. Ramani, Retd. Officer IOB, expired in died in Lucknow on 22-02-11 Chennai Sri.Sridharour member expired in Chennai on 15- Sri.P.Balakrishnan our member expired in Trichy 03-11 on 27-06-11 Sri.Lalit Mohan Paul , our member expired in Sri.P.Vellingiri, our active member expired In Kolkata on25-04-11 coimbatore on 19th July 2011 Sri.M.C.Mahadevan, former Deputy General Manager, expired in Chennai on 30-04-11 We pay our homage to the departed souls and offer Sri.S.Packiriswamy our member expired on 09- our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family 05-11 at Chennai members.

20 LEGAL CORNER

HC: Don’’t make retirees run pillar-to-post earlier mistake, this has to be given effect from the for benefits date of retirement of the pensioner concerned and the difference in commutation of pension also has to Jaipur, May 4 (PTI) The Rajasthan High Court has be paid. Retirees from various banks had taken ospitaliz the bureaucratic approach of government up the matter to various High Courts. officials in releasing retirement benefits. The single judge bench said the benefits must be given timely, In one of the Writ petitions filed by a retiree of without making the retirees run from pillar to post. Bank of Baroda The Division Bench of Madras High Court had decreed that the aberration be Justice Ajay Rastogi in a detailed order said the corrected with retrospective effect from the typical bureaucratic mindset of government officials date of retirement and the retirees be paid needs to change.The order came on a writ petition arrears and difference in commutation amount filed by Shakuntla Sharma, wife of a former Chief due to them. Engineer-cum-additional secretary who retired from the service in 1969. The officer stopped getting Com. C R C appeared for the plaintiff. There are pension after September, 1971 without any reason. some more WPs filed by Comrades from other banks on the same ground. We expect similar “The government failed to show why the pension has judgment on the other cases too. been stopped and only lame excuses have been We Congratulate Com. C.R C for obtaining this given which shows that the government officials who path breaking Judgment are in service have no respect for retired persons,” observed Justice Rastogi. The court added a note of caution, observing, “those in service today must Excerpts from the judgment are published here below remember that they will also retire in time to come...this court records its displeasure with this IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS bureaucratic approach of not granting due benefits.” DATED : 28.6.2011 The court directed the state government to release CORAM: the pension of the deceased husband of the THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE ELIPE DHARMA RAO petitioner from October 1971 with an interest of 9 AND per cent per annum. THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.SASIDHARAN

Historic Judgment by Madras High Court: Good Writ Appeal No.1209 of 2007 news for members retired between 01-04-1998 and 2002 including VRS 2000 1.G.Palani and others ... Appellants retirees Vs. Regulation 35 (2) of Pension Regulations states that ….” The amount of Basic Pension shall be 1.Bank of Baroda, calculated at 50% of the average emoluments” 2.The Competent Authority for Pension Regulations, Bank of Baroda, In the VII Bipartite settlement, a new definition of 3.Union of India, represented by its Secretary to “Pay for the purpose of Pension” was introduced, the Banking Division, Ministry of Finance, in contravention of Regulation 35 New Delhi-110001. ... Respondents This resulted in reducing the Basic Pension payable *** to the pensioners from 50% of basic pay to 41% of Writ Appeal preferred under clause 15 of the Letters Basic Pay. Patent, as against the order of the learned single Judge This illegality was sought to be rectified in the VIII dated8.8.2007 made in W.P.No.8945 of 2001. Bipartite settlement which restored and re fixed *** Basic pension of retirees to 50% of the actual For appellants : Mr.AL.Somayaji, average emoluments drawn by the retirees. Senior Counsel for Mr.C.R.Chandrasekaran The correction of pension aberration and restoration For R.1 & R.2 : Mr.A.P.S.Kasturi Rangan for of 50%of last drawn pay as Basic pension to post 01- M/s.Sampathkumar and 4-98and future retirees has been given prospective Associates effect from 1-5-05. As it is only a correction of an ***

21 JUDGMENT 8. The learned senior counsel appearing for the ELIPE DHARMA RAO, J. appellants would argue that once the pay revision has been effected, the respondents should take into The appellants are the retired employees of the consideration the last ten months salary to count the respondents 1 and 2/Bank of Baroda between 30.11.1998 pension of the employees and the impugned and 31.8.2000, either on superannuation or on voluntary amendment brought in by the respondents whereby retirement. ‘pay’ was defined only for the purpose of payment of 2. Originally, they have initiated these writ proceedings reduced pension to the appellants, contrary to the praying to issue a writ of mandamus directing the pension regulations when they retired, as compared second respondent to pay the difference in basic to payment of provident fund based on the revised pension and additional pension and commutation of pay from 1.4.1998, is illegal. Referring the act of the pension with interest at a rate to be determined by respondents an illegal one and need to be interfered this Court, in terms of the Bank of Baroda with by this Court, the learned senior counsel would (Employees’) Pension Regulations, 1995 (hereinafter rely on a Three Judge Bench judgment of the referred to as the Regulations). Honourable Apex Court in SALABUDDIN MOHAMED 3. After the respondents brought in an amendment to YUNUS vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH [1984 LAB the Regulations in April, 2003, by adding sub-clause I.C. 1738]. In this case, a Government servant in the (c) after 2(S)(b) with retrospective effect from State of Hyderabad, who was governed by Rule 4 and 1.4.1998, the appellants have filed a petition to 299(1)(b) of the Hyderabad Civil Service Rules and amend the prayer before the learned single Judge and was entitled to receive pension of Rs.1,000/=, was on the same having been allowed, the prayer has retired before 1.11.1956 i.e. the date of been amended to one of a writ of Declaration, to reorganisation of States. But, by the subsequent ‘declare that sub-clause (c) of clause (S) of amendment brought in, his pension was brought Regulation 2 of Bank of Baroda (Employees) Pension down to Rs.857.15 with retrospective effect by Regulations, 1995 is null and void and direct the notification dated 3.2.1971. In these circumstances, second respondent to pay the difference in basic the Honourable Apex Court has held the said action of pension and additional pension and commutation of reducing the pension as illegal ‘as the right to receive pension with interest at a rate to be determined by pension flowed immediately on retirement and was this Court, in terms of the Bank of Baroda property within meaning of Articles 19(1)(f) and (Employees’) Pension Regulations, 1995'. 31(1) of the Constitution i.e. a fundamental right and 4. From the materials placed on record, it is seen that could not be taken away either under Clause (5) of Pension scheme was first introduced in 1995 in Banks Article 19(1) and such deprivation was also not and thereafter by virtue of the Joint Note signed by justified under Article 31(1) since the same could not the Indian Banks’ Association with various Bank be said to be for public purpose and no compensation Officers Unions on 14.12.1999, on salary revision for was being paid to the public servant.” officers in Public Sector Banks, a salary revision was 9. The learned senior counsel would also place proposed and accepted. reliance on a judgment of a Division Bench of Kerala 5. Pay scales were revised from 1.4.1998 by the first High Court in SYNDICATE BANK AND OTHERS vs. respondent Bank and by the time they were CELINE THOMAS AND OTHERS [2006-II-LLJ 413]. In implemented, according to the appellants, they had this case, the employer Bank denied to its employees retired and hence they have been paid after their who retired between November 1, 1992 and October retirement, the arrears of wages consequent upon the 31, 1994, gratuity payable to them on the basis of revision. In this Joint Note, clause 6 defined ‘pension’ revised pay granted after their retirement with as: retrospective effect, by invoking provision in a ‘Pay’ for the purpose of pension shall be the aggregate Memorandum of Understanding reached between of pre-revised pay and Dearness Allowance thereon Nationalised Banks and employees in June 1995. In at CPI (consumer price index) 1616 points.” these circumstances, the Division Bench of the Kerala According to the appellants, this clause has resulted High Court has held: in payment of reduced amount of pension to them “... the payment of gratuity is a statutory benefit. It had to since the respondents 1 and 2 have not taken the last be computed on the basis of monthly pay of an employee. ten months enhanced salary for calculating the Memorandum of Understanding could not meddle pension, but only the earlier unenhanced salary, with statutory prescriptions.” citing the Joint Note. This, according to the 22. The respondents have relied on the judgments to the appellants, is illegal and hence they have filed the effect that they have the power to prescribe a cut-off present writ proceedings, the prayer of which has date and that the settlements entered into between been subsequently amended, as stated above. the workers unions and the Management by virtue of 6. Since the learned single Judge has dismissed their collective bargaining cannot be thrown out simply. plea, the appellants have come forward to prefer this We have no quarrel with this well established principle appeal. of law. But, in the case on hand, it is not that

22 unbridled power of the respondents, that is in parties that in respect of retirees, retiring on or after dispute, but the challenge is to the way in which an 1.5.2005, ‘average emoluments’ as defined in Pension unusual meaning has been sought to be introduced by Regulations for the purpose of pension, be calculated the respondents, quite against the very purport of the with reference to the pay drawn during the last ten Pension Regulations. months of service of the employee’s service in the 23. It is the strong case of the appellants that because of Bank. While this being the position, we have no this unusual amendment brought into the Regulations hesitation to hold that there is complete by the respondents, they have been put to a loss of justification in the prayer of the appellants, pension ranging from Rs.565/= to Rs.1380/= p.m. since the respondents 1 and 2 have tried to and commutation ranging from Rs.22,250/= to make an illegal differentiation between ‘salary’ Rs.62,160/=. This contention of the appellants was and ‘pension’, further ignoring to honour the attempted to the pooh-poohed by the respondents on Regulations 2(d) and 35(2). It is also to be held the ground that the Joint Note pertain only to the that the receipt of the arrears of pay by the salary and not to the pension and that the appellants appellants cannot, in any way, stand in their having accepted the pay revision and also received way of challenging the impugned action of the the arrears, cannot now turn around and say that they respondents 1 and 2, since being contrary to the be given both the benefits, quite against the Joint very purport and intention of the Regulations. Note. 27. The learned single Judge has not gone into this aspect 24. At this juncture, the legal question that would of the case, but, has proceeded to dissect the case fall for consideration is ‘whether a settlement keeping in view the unassailable fact that the entered into by the Unions, contrary to the respondents are having power to amend the Regulations, would be legal’? Regulations, by due process of law. 25. As has already been observed by us supra, in the case 28. The other argument advanced on the part of the on hand, though the Joint Note talks about the respondents 1 and 2 that the writ proceedings are pension, there is no mention therein about the liable to be dismissed on account of laches also cannot Regulations 2(d) and 35(2). Therefore, it goes be accepted, since there is no undue delay. To without saying that the ‘average emoluments’ for the explain, the Joint Note on conclusions of discussions purpose of counting the pension remained as the ‘pay between IBA and Officers Associations is dated drawn by an employee during the last ten months of 14.12.1999 and the present writ proceedings have his service in the Bank’ and that the basic pension been initiated on 23.4.2001. shall be calculated at fifty per cent of the average For all the above reasons, this Writ Appeal is allowed, emoluments. In the absence of any amendment setting aside the order of the learned single Judge. to these Regulations, the attempt made on the The respondents 1 and 2 are directed to calculate part of respondents, curtailing this benefit to and pay the difference of monetary benefits to the the appellants and such other similarly standing appellants within twelve weeks from from the date persons, by introducing the impugned of receipt of a copy of this judgment. But, the prayer of amendment is illegal. It would have been a the appellants to pay the difference in basic pension and completely different thing, had the Joint Note agreed additional pension and commutation of pension with for all corresponding amendments, including the interest at a rate to be determined by this Court, cannot be definitions for Regulations 2(d) and 35(2), which is ordered and the same stands rejected. No costs. not the case herein. Therefore, without any hesitation we can say that the impugned amendment Rao brought in by the respondents 1 and 2, quite against the Regulations 2(d) and 35 (2) and the very intent and purport of the Regulations is null and void. To 26. Probably realising this, this mistake has now been The Secretary to the Union of India, cured by the respondents in the settlement arrived at Banking Division, Ministry of Finance, by them with the representative Unions/Associations New Delhi 110001 on 2.6.2005, wherein it has been agreed between the

Deposit Mobilisation Campaign has canvassed three deposits totaling to Rs25.00 We are glad to inform you that our appeal in the last lakhs for our Sreemani Market Branch. issue of The Veteran launching our Deposit Sri.B.Ramji, our General Secretary has Mobilisation Campaign has received overwhelming canvassed 2 RDPs totaling to Rs3.50 lacs to our MCC response from our members. Campus Branch Sri.Shiba Prasad Das PPO No 3696 has Mr.V.R.Krishna Moorthy Canvassed deposits canvassed Fixed Deposits to the tune of Rs.50.00 totallingto Rs.4.00 lacs(2.00 lacs each to Kanjikode lacs for our Salt Lake Branch and Palakkad Branches and Recurring Deposit accts Sri.Arabinda Ghosal Chowdhury PPO No 7875 with Monthly instalments of Rs20,000/- to Palakkad

23 SPL INVITATION FOR RETIREES & PENSIONERS

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If Undelivered please Return to: Dr. B. RAMJI, General Secretary, I.O.B. Retirees` Association, No. 2, First Cross Street, Jaya Nagar, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai - 600 047. Ph. No. : 044-22418692, Mobile : 9444013417. E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.iobveterans.com