The case filed on revoking the freezing of IDA of dated 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021 vide DPE Order dated 19.11.2020 at Hon’ble High Court, Guwahati will come up for hearing today. AIGETOA is intervener in the case filed by NCOA at Hon’ble High Court Guwahati. Although DPE has submitted that the increase has been subsumed in the increased IDA Rate of 170.5% w.e.f 01.07.2021 from the previous freezed rate of 150.9% standing on 01.07.2020. The association is pressing that the lost IDA of the intervening period is a permanent loss and hence the DPE order dated 19.11.2020 should be revoked to revise the IDA of slated period as the situation has improved considerably after Covid and Hon’ble High Court Ernakulam has also directed BSNL to extend the benefits of Dearness Allowance Revision to the Non Executives of BSNL.

The case at Guwahati is listed for today.

Team AIGETOA comprising of Shri Badri Kumar Mehta, Shri Vivek Kumar Singh and Shri Wasi Ahmad met senior officers in DoT i.e. Dr Mahesh Shukla Member Services, Shri S K Verma JS Admin, Smt. Roshni Madam DDG Estab, Shri Raiti Madava Rao Director PSU and held discussion in continuity of our earlier submission on E2-E3 Scale and discussed about the status of our representation on E2-E3 scale, which is to be approved by the DoT.

Click here for the letter

We taken up the matter of our representation with supporting documents on standard scale E2-E3, which was submitted on 23rd Sep’2022. It was apprised to us that the representation given by us has been processed as per request of the association to re-examine the case for approval of E2-E3 scale meant for JTO/JAO and SDE/AO Equivalent grades in BSNL. It is important to note that with the consistent and aggressive follow up meeting of AIGETOA on the matter of E2-E3 Scale in DoT has resulted in reopening of the case. The case has been reopened after a gap of almost 4-5 years by the DoT and it is going to be vital in coming days towards the permanent settlement of E2-E3 case for BSNL Executives. The file related to standard Pay Scale is currently with establishment Section in the DoT.

In the meeting with Member Services and JS Admin, we appraised the merit of the case once again and replied the queries raised to us. Both the senior officers have assured to examine the issue positively and see the best possibilities in the matter. Earlier we met the Director PSU and DDG Estab also on the matter and spoken in detail on the issue. Here onwards a regular follow up meeting will be held in the DoT towards every movement on the subject matter till final approval of E2-E3 scale is not accorded by the DoT to BSNL.

Later the Team AIGETOA met with DDG Estab and enquired about the SDE RR concurrence by the DoT as assured to us in last visit. She told that the file is with the section and it is being examined and very soon, the necessary consent will be sent to the BSNL after approval from the competent authority in the DoT.

We are highly thankful to the Member Services, JS Admin and Director PSU for accepting our request to reopen the case, an important step towards approval of E2-E3 Scale for JTO/JAO and SDE/AO in BSNL. Team AIGETOA extended Deepawali Greetings to all senior officers.

Click here for snaps

Earlier, Team AIGETOA also met to PS to the Hon’ble MOC, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw ji for seeking meeting with the Hon’ble Minister in continuity of our previous meeting held on 29.07.2022. He was kind enough to discuss the matter and assured to appraise the request to the Hon’ble Minister and meeting will be schedule soon at his convenience.

Today the Pay Loss case of 22820/- filed by AIGETOA OBs was listed at serial number 79 for hearing in Court No-2 at PCAT New Delhi.

Our Counsel mentioned the case in the morning itself for the argument before the Hon’ble Judge. The Hon’ble Judge asked the reason for urgent hearing on the matter. The Counsel explained in detail about the pay loss matter lingering since long time causing immense loss and also apprised the Court about the MA in the matter by applicant in the month of Oct 21, which has not been taken up for arguments so far due to no regular hearing on the matter. After listening the arguments of our counsel, the Hon’ble judge didn’t agreed to listen today but agreed for granting the short date of 27th Oct 2022 for the hearing, which was agreed by the BSNL Counsel also. So, we expect that argument on merit may start on next date on pay loss matter.

E2-E3 Matter at the DoT:

Team AIGETOA is in regular follow up at DoT and one another letter was sought to move on the matter and same was submitted by the association in DoT. Team AIGETOA will be meeting officials of the DoT by tomorrow in the follow up for reopening the matter pertains to approval of E2-E3 Scale by the DoT.

Hearing in the E2-E3 Case at Chandigarh is also scheduled in next week.

We are regularly following up the standard pay scale and pay loss case simultaneously at department as well as legal fronts and expect some breakthrough in both the matters.

As per the AIGETOA Meeting held with Director (HR) on 30.09.2022 and subsequent meetings in DoT and BSNL at various levels upto 07.10.2022, following is the current status of the issues:

AGM Promotion:

The AGM Promotion has been withheld due to stay by the Kolkata CAT granted on 13.09.2022. Although the earlier stay by the Jabalpur bench on 29.08.2022 has been vacated but the new stay by Kolkata is not allowing the promotion to happen. Some direction for clearing only list-8 was obtained by few executives from Kolkata bench but this is not accepted by the management citing the previous order and reservation issue. Meeting upto CMD level happened along with Dir HR/CLO but the deadlock is continuing. The efforts are continuing to break the deadlock of promotion.

Seniority Issue:

Association has taken a firm stand to revise the SDE Seniority List 9-13 in line with the direction of the Kolkata CAT dated 13.09.2022 as per DoPT OM dated 13.08.2021. Detailed arguments happened in this regard on 30.09.2022 and subsequently also but still some adamancy is being shown by the management. The direction of the Hon’ble court is clear and association pursuance is continuing in this direction. Further, association has firmly intimated the management that MT will not be allowed and association will take all necessary steps to check it.

AO to CAO Promotion:

The matter has been discussed with the Dir HR and requested to initiate the process as 1st Jan is reaching close. Dir HR has agreed with it and direction in this regard has been given to start the preparatory exercise for AO to CAO Promotion.

SDE RR Notification and left out JTO Promotion:

The matter has been taken up by the association as well as by Dir HR with Secretary DoT and it is expected that DoT will send its clearance by this week and then SDE RR will be notified. Once the RR is notified, all efforts will be taken to release the promotion of left out 2K8 JTOs within a fortnight.

E2-E3 Scale:

The case has been taken up with Member Services and other officers and multiple meetings has been held in this regard to reopen the case at DoT. All requisite letter and documentations have been shared to the DoT and some ray of hope has been generated. Although CMD BSNL is not enthusiastic on the issue but we are using the route of the DoT for the settlement of the case. Further details can’t be shared in view of premature stage.

Pay Loss issue of 22820:

One meeting with GS, FS and AGS2 has been held with PGM Establishment in this regard on 07.10.2022 as per direction of the Dir HR. The meeting lasted for one and half hours and various important points have been deliberated with arguments/counter arguments. In the meeting some acceptance for the loss has been echoed by the PGM Estab but it is not in totality and delay factor has also been raised. It has been agreed that the association will further raise the points formally with the committee formed for the purpose. The details will be updated to the Director HR also.

MS RR Draft:

It has intimated that initial discussion has been done within the management and association may be called in 3rd week of October to initiate the discussion before framing the draft of the MS RR. This includes fast track mechanism in AGM/DGM grades.

Restructuring in view of BBNL:

Association has taken up the matter with the Dir HR/PGM Restg and it has been told that care will be taken to incorporate the points raised by the association for the review of restructuring. Some submission has already been made in the meeting which was acknowledged by Dir HR also.

SDE Reversal Issue:

Meeting of the association will be arranged with new committee formed for the purpose. In the deliberation it was told by the management to settle the case by keeping these SDEs in 2006-07 which was out rightly rejected by the association and firmly told to not change the position from 2005-06 at any cost.

GTI/DRF Implementation:

A direction has been given by the CMD/Dir HR to the PGM Estab to work out the provision to extend the insurance coverage (about 20 Lakh) to BSNL Employees by the department by paying through GSLIS Scheme. Estab Cell is working on this issue.

Hard Tenure and Soft Tenure:

Uttarakhand demand for conversion of Hard Tenure and Karnataka soft tenure has been accepted by the Dir HR and Pers Cell has been asked to work out the modalities to place the proposal in management committee.

Hard Tenure Circle Exemption for long stay:

The matter has been discussed and in principle it has been agreed that executive of hard tenure stations should be protected through some mechanism to save from the longest transfer or benefits should be extended. Pers Cell has been asked to work over it.

GATE JTO Transfer from hard tenure Circle:

It has been discussed and idea has been accepted by Dir HR but it will be further deliberated within the management before decision.

Allotment of Quarter to the association at Delhi:

The policy for quarter allotment has been withheld on account of ongoing election of the non executive, which is going to over by 14th Oct’2022. Hence it will be released after 14th and thereafter the allotment will be made.

Sabbatical Leave:

Management has agreed to start giving the Sabbatical Leave to its employees as demanded by the association and policy in this regard will be framed and notified soon.

IMPS and Online Attendance System:

The matter has been raised by the association strictly citing various issues and limitation in the field units and this will become a tool for harassment. It was reverted to us that it’s a new practice and sufficient time will be given to get acquaintance with IPMS system. All necessary supports will be provided in the field in coming six months to equip the officers to work smoothly and no vindictive action will be allowed. As far as the online attendance limitations are raised, they will be looked into and addressed.

Retention Cases of OBs:

The retention cases taken by the association for OBs transferred during JTO to SDE Promotion has been accepted and issued comprising of Punjab, Rajasthan, ALTTC and Telangana.

Today, meeting with DDG PSU and DDG Establishment concluded today on standard pay scale E2-E3 and SDE RR clearance. The meeting was attended by Shri Veerabhadra Rao AIP, Shri Wasi Ahmad General Secretary, Shri Vivek Kumar Singh AGS, Shri Sunil Gautam AGS.

The details will be updated soon…..

The Annual General Meeting of AIGETOA conducted in a grand manner at Hotel Grand Shobha, New Delhi from 24.09.2022 to 25.09.2022. Around 125 delegates from different parts of India participated in the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The day one was inaugurated by All India President Sh Veerbhadra Rao & GS Sh Wasi Ahmad by lighting the Lamp, hosting of AIGETOA flag followed by opening Prayer “Itni Shakti ham-e-dena data”.

The Meeting was presided over by the All India Chairman Sh Ravi Shil Verma, All India President CHQ Sh Veerbhadra Rao and all mandatory provisions of the association for the financial year 2021-22 were taken up for discussion and approval of the House. After detailed discussion, Annual Working Report, and Financial Report of the financial year 2021-22 of the association was passed by the house unanimously.

Details will be uploaded soon.

Click here for the glimpses of AGM

The scheduled hearing of the AGM Stay Case at Jabalpur CAT held today and brief arguments happened at the Hon’ble Court. After the listening all sides, the court posted the case on 28.09.2022.

Team AIGETOA comprising of Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Vivek Kumar Singh AG, and Shri Badri Kumar Mehta FS held detailed meeting with PGM Estt regarding changing of committee member in the pay loss 22820/- committee and requested for holding the formal meeting with AIGETOA on the pay loss issues. It was apprised that the committee was formed in the July 2021 but only single internal meeting of the committee has been held so far. Further, the committee has not given an opportunity to the recognized Association AIGETOA to represent the matter on the pay loss issue to the committee so far. Since Chairman of the committee, Shri R.K. Goyal has got transferred to NTR as CGM hence we requested PGM Estt to incorporate current GM Pers in the pay loss committee. PGM Estt listened patiently and assured to revert back after speaking to Dir HR.

The creation of another SAB account for the left out 260 officers has been discussed in detailed. PGM Estt said the details from the LIC has come to BSNL and same shall be reverted back soon and the new account for the SAB shall become operational soon and the remaining officers shall be able to check the SAB amount in their LIC portal and SAB account shall be visible on pay slip.

Team AIGETOA comprising of Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Vivek Kumar Singh AGs, and Shri Badri Kumar Mehta FS held detailed meeting GM Admin to expedite the start of DRF (Death Relief Fund Scheme)/ GTI by the BSNL Management. The above matter was earlier raised strongly in front of CMD BSNL and full BSNL Board and informed management about the recent demises of BSNL Recruited employees and endless suffering of such families in absence. We apprised how they are totally collapsed with meager support of Rs 3500 to Rs 4500 a month by including both SAB Fund and EPS Scheme. It is happening basically due delayed start of the SAB Pension Fund by BSNL w.e.f. 2016 with very less percentage or just 3%, which is now raised to only 5%. The delayed start with less percentage has accumulated insufficient fund in the SAB Pension maintained by LIC and any eventuality coming as a serious financial blow to the families. It was agreed by CMD BSNL that a mechanism will be in placed to support the families in case of demise of the employee through DRF/GTI of suitable amount. We reminded GM Admin to expedite issue and start dialogue with the association to in place the mechanism at the earliest.

GM Admin listen our view patiently and shows concern on the matter and suffering of the families due to no DRF scheme and assured to take concurrence with Dir HR/CMD BSNL to expedite it further.

The details of the venue & stay arrangements for the Annual General Meet (AGM) of AIGETOA CHQ on 24th & 25th Sept 2022. The details for the meeting are as below :

Schedule of Annual General Meeting:

Date and Time of the meeting : 24th to 25th Sept 2022 from 10:00 to 21:00 Hrs.

Place : New Delhi.

Venue of meeting : Hotel The Grand Sobha, 1028/1, Near IGI Airport, Mahipalpur Extn, New Delhi – 110037

Direction on Google Maps. Click here

Discussion and Deliberation : 24th to 25th Sept 2022 (Sat & Sun).

Click here for the Notice of AGM

Click here for the Corrigendum for AGM Notice

Team AIGETOA comprising of Shri Ravi Shil Verma AIC, Shri Pavan Akhand AGS-1, Shri Vivek Kumar Singh AGS-2, Shri Yogendra Kumar AGS-6 and Shri Wasi Ahmad GS held meeting with GM Pers and his team and had a detailed deliberation on the implementation of recent order of Hon’ble CAT Kolkata, Issuance of SDE to AGM Promotion, MS RR, Declaration of some stations of Uttarakhand as Hard Tenure, Declaration of some stations of Karnataka as Soft Tenure, Release of new GATE JTOS from J&K and other tenure stations, Transfer & Posting.

We extend out thank to GM Pers for holding the meeting and listen the arguments of the association with open mind. Association side apprised all details related to fixation of seniority of SDE from vacancy year 2006-07 onwards and the injustice meted out to LDCE Qualified SDEs with all facts and figures supported by the documents. A detailed document of 300 pages was submitted to him along with updating the sequence of events from the beginning including submission of legal opinion by the Retd Justice of the Hon’ble Supreme Court by the association and assurance of management on account of the direction by the Hon’ble Court.

We apprised that without going into the details of Court Case, the Association is of the firm view that the direction given by Kolkata Bench of Hon’ble CAT for amendment of SDE Seniority List 9 by incorporating SDETs promoted through both modes i.e. SQ and CQ for the vacancy year 2006-07 and publishing of seniority from the lis-9 to list-13 afresh in the light of the DoPT OM Dated 13.08.2021 should be issued and accordingly an speaking order may also be issued. Arguments and counter arguments were exchanged between two sides and the association insisted to implement the DoPT OM dated 13.08.2021 in true sense. Finally, it was agreed by the GM Pers that the matter will be re-examined and discussed at higher level also. We emphasize that management has got an opportunity to undo the injustice meted out to the LDCE qualified SDEs of 2006-07 onwards and this shouldn’t be allowed to slip from the hand.

On SDE to AGM Promotion, it was firmly told by that the Kolkata bench order has not touched the SDE seniority list 8 and only speaks about the revision on SDE Seniority list 9 to list 13 on the basis of DoPT OM dated 13.08.2021. Although the language of the order restraining for issuance of SDE to AGM Promotion is not clear but if read in totality, it is limited to only list 9 to list 13 i.e. the Promotion of the SDEs from list 9 to list 13 should be carried out after revision of these list in the light of DoPT OM 13.08.2021 only. Hence the Hon’ble Court at Kolkata has not restrained the SDE to AGM Promotion of SDE Seniority List 8 and it can be released once cleared by the Jabalpur Bench.

MS RR revision which incorporates stagnation clause for SDE to AGM and Fast Track Mechanism for AGM/DGM grades is in process of final discussion at the highest level and the revised draft of MS RR will be shared once the final meeting takes place at the of CMD BSNL.

The matter of conversion of soft tenure of Almora, Srinagar(Gwl) & New Tehri OAs of Uttrakhand Circle to Two Year Hard Tenure Stations was discussed in detailed and we reminded about earlier submission as well as CGM Uttarakhand recommendation. The matter of declaring five OAs of Karnataka viz. Madikeri, Karwar, Bidar, Chickmagalur & Shimoga as soft tenure stations was also discussed and hardship faced by the Circle for shortage of officers was discussed. GM Pers appraised that both the matter have been discussed with the Director HR and a final decision has to be taken. We requested to expedite the decision considering the situation of these Circles.

The matter of release GATE JTOS under Rule-8 from J&K Circle and NE Circles were also discussed. We apprised that at one side many GATE JTOs are waiting to return to their HOME STATE after completion of five years in these Circles and other side many SDES are waiting for their hard tenure posting at these locations in want of vacancies. As per restructuring, JTO and SDE are interchangeable and so a mechanism can be framed to release the GATE JTOs on Rule-8 for their home Circle after completing five years of service and equal numbers of SDEs can be posted from the waiting list to fill the gap. It will serve the purpose of both sides and address the issue in best possible way. We apprise that one meeting with PGM Establishment has already been done by the association on the subject. GM Pers agrees to look into the possibilities and examine the matter in consultation with the PGM Establishment.

The matter of retention, modification and OTP Transfer Cases also discussed in the meeting and cases handed over also.

The meeting ended on a positive note.