AIGETOA CHQ writes to CMD BSNL for extension of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to the TTAs appointed in BSNL for the Vacancy/Recruitment/Notification pertains to Govt. of India in line with the latest GOI, DoP&PW OM on 3.3.2023.
As assured to AIGETOA by Hon’ble CMD BSNL in the meeting dated 21st March 2023, it is understood that the modified SDE RRs are being placed for approval in BSNL Board Meeting to be held tentatively this week. With this approval, path for the Promotions of the left out JTOs of 2008 batch will be cleared and hopefully the promotions will be issued soon. In the meeting, Team AIGETOA has emphasized upon starting the exercise for subsequent batches also and we will ensure that the DPC promotion process for the subsequent batches and LDCE notification for the eligible batches are also completed immediately thereafter.
Dear Friends,
In an MA filed by AIGETOA and it’s members at PCAT on 14th March 2023, Hon’ble Court has directed BSNL not to fill up the vacancies of Management Trainees without obtaining prior permission of the court.
We have firm expectations from the court case filed on MT process and it seems Hon’ble court is also aware of the merit in the process and accordingly provided relief to AIGETOA and it’s member applicants.
Friends, we apologize for the delayed information in this regard but keeping in view the criticality of the matter and the complexities of the court proceedings, we decided to wait for final written orders from Hon’ble Court.
Opposite side tried it’s best till last hour but couldn’t succeed.
The team AIGETOA met PGM SR, GM Pers and GM Recruitment on 16th Mar 2023 and discussed the following points:
Meeting with PGM(SR):
We met PGM(SR) and asked about the release of MoM of the agenda meeting held with Dir(HR), Allotment of quarter to Association and Initiation of MV process. PGM SR Informed that MoM Draft is under circulation for comments from participating sections before final approval. It will be shared with us once the draft is ready. It is expected to be issued next week as assured by PGM(SR). On allotment of quarter to association we apprised about the development from the time we received vacant quarter list from Building Section. She said She will discuss with Dir(HR) about all the developments regarding it. AIP showed his apprehension about the intent behind premature initiation of MV and raised doubt about the process started by the SR branch, she said that MV shall be conducted in Sep 2023 and they are only making the preparations to hold it in time. We pointed out that SR cell has deviated from the defined process and they must keep things in order to enable smooth completion of process.
Meeting with GM(Pers):
Later team has met the GM pers to discuss the burning issues like SDE reversal issue and left out JTOs promotions issue and other HR issues.
GM pers told us that Left out promotions couldn’t be done as the new SDE RRs have yet not been finalized. Team AIGETOA expressed its strong displeasure on consistent missing of timelines and sought immediate necessary conclusive actions.
On SDE reversal issue GM Pers said that the committee has not yet finalized the step to issue the promotion orders from SDE to AGM and he shall be discussing with Director HR in coming week on this. We requested to take this issue in mission mode and resolve the long pending issue without any delay now.
Meeting with GM(Recruitment):
Team has met GM Recruitment Smt Samita Luthra and discussed the release of Special JTO LICE results and other points. On result declaration she informed it may take tentatively one week more as the PWD reservation issue is not yet finalized by the BSNL management.
We have later met officers from establishment section to pursue the Rule-9 JTOs extension cases. The requests have been considered positively and orders have been issued.
We are in receipt of many queries from Members and Executives after an incomplete update has been given on the website of our sister association. We didn’t updated anything on the website earlier as it was decided that all the forum members will give a single draft to management and accordingly we have updated only the suggestions and inputs part by forum of BSNL associations. As regard to the comment of Hon’ble CMD BSNL is concerned, we eager to see the white paper as per his statement on the issue of pending financial benefits of BSNL Recruits. We also want to see, how management proves their sentence of ensuring at par benefits for BSNL Recruits vis-à-vis the other group of executives in this organisation.
The complete details of the AIGETOA submission in the meeting and management response is as stated below:
We have taken around 15 minutes time for our submissions.
First 2-3 minutes were on presentation with respect to growth of BSNL and the future good picture of BSNL as presented by management. AIGETOA Congratulated management and BSNL Board with a comment that going by the facts presented with respect to the development aspects of BSNL, definitely management deserves an applause for the same. AIGETOA also gave their suggestions with respect to the improvement in network.
Next, 4-5 minutes were with respect to questions on presentation of MTNL BSNL Merger. Representative of AIGETOA stated that keeping every point aside, management has missed to mention the financial and profitability aspects of this merger. AIGETOA representative said how much BSNL is going to earn and how much BSNL is going to spend on taking over and running the MTNL operations, same should have also been detailed in the presentation before seeking a comments from association. The profitability aspect of this merger must be kept in mind and indemnity against such losses must be ensured by the government before moving ahead with this merger.
Next 6-7 mins, AIGETOA started with Congratulations to CMD BSNL on salary regularisation and stated that it’s good that now people have stopped asking when salary will be deposited in account. It is also good that there is a growth in revenue and BSNL has consistently been EBIDTA positive. The comfortable level vis-à-vis the revenue as well as expenditure is also visible. It is also good that CMD BSNL has praised the role of employees. It is further good that government has extended two revival packages for BSNL. But despite all these, it’s high time to deliberate on what has been extended to those employees who are left in BSNL and those who have been carrying the load of the organisation and executing the initiatives in BSNL Favour in the toughest times of organisation, sometimes, even spending the money from their own pockets.
Representative of AIGETOA further stated that definitely, the first priority of everyone is BSNL and its wellbeing. All the employees are fully committed towards the responsibilities assigned to them. It was further stated by AIGETOA that all the executives working in BSNL have similar responsibilities towards their families also and it’s high time that management should start investing in HR also by considering it as resource and should calculate the return on this investment after one year. All have joined BSNL with aspirations of their pay, pension, promotions and social security of their families. Every employer is duty bound to extend the genuine dues to its employees. AIGETOA Raised the issue of pay scales, pay loss and 30 percent SAB issues and reminded management that these are the residual issues of 2nd PRC which have not been implemented yet and now BSNL should start implementing these residual issues of 2nd PRC. We also said that PRMB is guideline by DPE and its good that BSNL has extended CGHS for absorbed officers, similar guidelines of DPE with respect to creation of post-retirement medical benefit fund (a defined contribution scheme) has not been implemented yet in BSNL. AIGETOA also said that pension of DoT absorbed executives should be revised and similarly the DPE guidelines w.r.t BSNL recruits must be implemented in totality.
CMD BSNL intervened thereafter with his reply on AIGETOA points. He first clarified on benefits of taking over operations of MTNL and stated that with this merger, BSNL will have a Pan India presence as it will be difficult for BSNL to create an entirely new network in areas of Delhi and Mumbai. On this AIGETOA has submitted that at least 10 year cushion against losses should be borne by government, if merger is at all to take place and government should indemnify BSNL against all such losses for at least next 10 years.
On the benefits pertaining to BSNL Recruits, definitely CMD BSNL approach was negative with a comment that BSNL is spending at least 20 to 30 percent more on BSNL Recruits than DoT absorbed and he is ready to issue a white paper in this regard. However, AIGETOA is categorical in its approach that Defined Contribution Benefits can never be compared with Defined Benefits and emphasized that management is welcome to issue a white paper.
There were few other comments also from CMD BSNL on which association is preparing its response and is waiting for the white paper to be issued by Management before taking a final call on the next course. Further, it will be worth to mention that AIGETOA was the only association to question on the multi-dimensional aspects of merger of MTNL into BSNL. We have not opposed the merger and instead suggested that before merger, the pending HR issues must be settled and Pay Scales of BSNL executives should be made at par with MTNL counter parts instead of lowering their Scales and that 3rd PRC must be implemented.
Those speaking after us have not countered anything from their side and instead it can be felt from their web update that somewhere they are in agreement of the words of CMD BSNL. Our Sister Association is even calling Leave Encashment as part of retirement benefits for which AIGETOA already got a clarification issued from DPE. Based on that clarification, other PSUs implemented 30% SAB in totality while sadly BSNL started partial SAB in 2016 after prolonged persuasion by our association. They have also wrongly reported that we have entered into any comparison because we are firmly aware that Defined Benefits of absorbed executives cannot be compared with Defined Contribution Benefits as per DPE guidelines.
As far as AIGETOA is concerned, we remain committed for resolution of each and every issue. We are of the firm view that BSNL Recruits are governed by different rules (DPE) on these matters and the Defined Contribution Benefits cannot be compared with defined benefits. We firmly state that if management is so concerned on extra contribution towards BSNL Recruits, they are welcome to review the contribution and extend the same benefits as defined for the DoT counterparts, like applicability of 50% Pension (Old Pension Scheme) after 20 year service, complete Leave Encashment of 300 days on Resignation/VR, CGHS facilities to the retired BSNL recruits etc. IF at all any comparison is to be made, the same should be of benefits not contribution. The comparison should be on the social status of the employee post retirement and his family after the death of the employee. The comparison should be on how many recommendations of DPE exclusively pertaining to BSNL recruits have been implemented in totality vis-à-vis the recommendations made with regard to the other set of employees. AIGETOA is not interested in any comparison but going by the statement of CMD BSNL and the web update of our sister association, it is definitely giving an essence that this comparison is essentially required to expose the misdeeds of the past. We will surely welcome and wait ensure the white paper by Management on this comparison. We are quite interested to see how this white paper will do the comparison between defined benefits and defined contribution. Come what may, we will continue to raise all such injustices and disparities in future also and at all available platforms till it is resolved in totality.
Hence, we request all the BSNL recruits to not to get demotivated by such statements of management as well as other groups and associations. AIGETOA is totally committed to ensure that all the groups in this organisation gets their defined dues and BSNL Recruits will also get their dues. There is no such comparison and there cannot be any such comparison.
It is understood that the stay issued by the Hon’ble Principal CAT at New Delhi, for declaring the results of the Special JTO LICE, has been vacated today. Hence, results of the Special JTO LICE are expected to be declared within a day or two.
The court case on AO to CAO promotions is listed for today at SL No. 41, 43. AIGETOA Team consisting FS CHQ Shri Badri Kumar Mehta, Joint Secretary (North) Shri Amit Roy, CS AIGETOA Punjab Shri Yogesh Chhabra and FS AIGETOA Punjab Shri Vineet Bhandari shall be present in court on behalf of AIGETOA. Case has been exclusively listed at 2:30 pm today and is likely to be decided. We have also ensured that things remain in ready mode from BSNL Side to issue the promotions immediately without any delay. Senior counsel from Hon’ble Supreme Court shall be attending the hearing on behalf of BSNL.
Let’s all pray that today case is decided and we can see the long awaited promotions in AO to CAO grade can take place which will open up the path for JAO to AO promotions also.
It is understood that as per discussions and suggestions given by AIGETOA in the recently held agenda meeting, feedback is being called from field units on the pros, cons and suggestions on improving the system and doing away with the inherent lacunae. All the AIGETOA office bearers are requested to immediately highlight the challenges and demerits of the system with their respective Circle, BA and OA heads.
An exclusive meeting with association on this issue shall also be held very soon.
AIGETOA Team consisting of All India Chairman Shri Ravi Shil Verma, All India President Shri Veerabhadra Rao, General Secretary Shri Pavan Akhand, AGS Shri Yogendra Kumar and Joint Secretary Shri R N Mishra met CMD BSNL and discussed upon execution of further promotions in all cadres including that of JTO to SDE, SDE to AGM, AO to CAO and AGM to DGM promotions. CMD BSNL told us that his emphasis is always on executing the maximum possible promotions and to streamline the process, he has already instructed the HR team to publish the DPC and LDCE Calendar. In MSRR he said, the board has already approved the RRs but he and his team are open to discussions on the ways to execute the promotions provided the same falls within the ambit of defined structure and rules. We emphasized that things are quite possible within the ambit of rules and need is only to consider the ways with a positive mindset. We sought formal time from him for discussions. He said he shall be extending the formal meeting to discuss upon the inputs of association.
We also had a brief discussion on the restructuring part where in we stated that need for revisiting the strength is there as two years period are over and staff is further required for executing BharatNet Project in view of BBNL Merger and for executing the 4G saturation Project. CMD BSNL was affirmative on staff requirements especially in case of 4G Saturation Project. On BharatNet, he said that there is limited scope as most of the Fiber is outsourced. We told that there is ample scope in BharatNet also even by considering the outsourcing norms and we shall be presenting that formally also. The formal meeting with CMD BSNL is likely to be held in first week of March 2023 in view of his preoccupied tight schedule in this and coming week.
On AO to CAO promotions and AGM to DGM promotions, CMD BSNL told that decision is expected from Hon’ble court in the next hearing and thereafter promotions can be immediately held. The JTO to SDE promotions shall also be held soon.
We also discussed upon management moving once again on MT Recruitment. We requested CMD BSNL to not to start the process again as already many cases are there and matter is pending at Hon’ble PCAT where even the notification is under challenge. We said that going again with MT Recruitment will create huge unrest in executives. CMD BSNL said that he is aware of the legal positions and the department will not do anything in contravention to any court orders. However he emphasized that he firmly stands for meritocracy in which we said that if BSNL is really for meritocracy, then they should restore the seniority of LDCE passed candidates belonging to list 12 and 13 and ensure their promotions. Similarly they should resolve the SDE Reversal issue who have qualified the LDCE 2007 for which they were held fully eligible for appearing in the exam and they qualified the exam with merit. We requested Hon’ble CMD BSNL to extend the due position and seniority to the LDCE passed executives including that of List 12 and 13 and 147 group.
Thereafter we met GM Pers also and discussed OTP cases, Orders for new Hard and soft tenure stations belonging to Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Gujarat, SDE Reversal issue etc. We also requested GM Pers to allow all the candidates falling in long stay 24-25 years to opt for OTP transfers on their choice stations and also to open the window for them whose applications are pending in the Hard Tenure Waiting List. We also requested to open a special window for the executives whose applications were rejected on the last day so that they can modify their choices in current OTP window itself. We also suggested GM Pers to allow executives to cancel or modify their OTP applications in the module itself which will save a lot of time for the candidates as well as administration.
GM Pers said that opening a special window is under consideration for the candidates whose applications were rejected on the last day. Orders for new Hard Tenure and Soft Tenure Stations of Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Gujarat and few other stations shall be issued within a week. He assured that suggestions of association with respect to modification of OTP choices or cancellation of his own request can also be considered.
We also discussed upon the developments in the SLP filed by BSNL in 147 cases. We told GM Pers to consider revising the Seniority in line with the Hon’ble High Court orders which are most likely to be upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court also. We said, that now is high time for the department to extend the genuine dues to LDCE passed candidates belonging to various batches by restoring their seniority in view of the recent developments at Hon’ble Supreme Court in 147 case. GM Pers said that matter shall be discussed with BSNL Senior Counsel.
Friends, every issue will be discussed with management and concerned HR groups with full focus.
We firmly assure that none of the issues will remain pending with our consistent persuasion at all levels. We are in touch with other authorities also to get resolution of our pending HR issues.
Team AIGETOA consisting of Chairman Shri Ravi Shil Verma, All India President Shri Veerabhadra Rao, GS Shri Pavan Akhand and FS Shri Badri Kumar Mehta and JS Central Shri R N Mishra met Sr GM CA BSNL CO and requested for immediate endorsement of the order. BSNL CO has not only endorsed the order to circles but also has written to RPFC for immediate guidelines and clarification with respect to the process required to capture the same. We extend our sincere thanks to Sr GM CA Shri Surajit Mandol for his immediate action on the matter.