Warm Republic Day Greetings to all Friends, Comrades and Well Wishers! Let us be part of building up the secular, democratic republic.

“The Delhi High Court today allowed Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students who are yet to register for the ongoing Winter Semester, to do so as per the old hostel manual within one week.

The Court has directed that no late fee shall be imposed on such students for late registration.

The Court has also clarified that for the purpose of room allocation, the reserved category students shall be dealt with as per the old Hostel Manual i.e. the one which existed prior to October 28, 2019 in case of any dispute.

The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher in a petition by the members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) challenging the introduction of University’s new Hostel Manual.

The Court today issued notice to the JNU Administration and directed it to file its response to the petition within two weeks.

It is the petitioner’s stance that the new Hostel Manual has resulted in increased hostel fee, affected rights of those in reserved categories vis a vis allocation of hostel rooms, and reduced the representation of the JNUSU in the Inter Hostel Administration (IHA).

In its petition filed through Advocates Abhik Chimni, Aman Shukla, Aarti and Mayank Goyal, JNUSU members assailed the Hostel Manual on the ground that that the entire decision-making process was malafide, arbitrary and illegal, and adversely affected the student community.

Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal contended that the decision-making process was undertaken without any student representation. This defeated the mandate of the Hostel Manual of including the views of the stakeholders when changing its provisions, he argued.

The petitioners also took objection to the introduction of Below Poverty Line (BPL)/Economic Weaker Section (EWS) category in the Hostel Manual, calling it irrational and arbitrary. It is stated that there was no explanation as to how such category was to be made applicable or identified when “Merit-cum-Means Scholarships” category was already existing in the University.

It was thus pleaded that the acts ran contrary to the Delhi High Court’s order passed in March 2019, which acknowledged the importance of student representation in welfare committees.

Opposing the plea, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand submitted that 90% students had already registered as per the new Hostel Manual.To this Justice Shakdher replied,

“When you don’t have a choice, what do you do?”

Justice Rajiv Shakdher (Delhi High Court)

Urging the University administration to establish dialogue with the representatives, Justice Shakdher said,

“You cannot say that you will not engage… that’s my concern.”

Justice Rajiv Shakdher (Delhi High Court)

Anand also opposed Justice Shakdher’s suggestion to keep the increased hostel fee in abeyance for the time being in view of concerns regarding payment of salaries to the employees of the University. Justice Shakdher, however, remarked,

“Government cannot get out of education…Government has to fund public education…responsibility to pay salaries cannot be on the students… someone has to find the funds.”
Justice Rajiv Shakdher (Delhi High Court)
Anand further added that the new manual was introduced as per communications from the UGC and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Further, the UGC was already in dialogue with the students, she claimed.

She also raised objections with regard to the election of the JNUSU and stated the matter was already pending before a grievance redressal cell as per the Lyndoh Committee guidelines.

The Court, however, clarified that this aspect will be examined at a later stage, if the need arises. The Court was also informed that utility and service charges had already been waived off.

In view of the above, the Court proceeded to direct that the remaining 10% students shall be allowed to register for the ongoing Winter Semester as per the old Hostel Manual and no late fee shall be imposed on them.

The Court also directed for the impleadment of the MHRD and the UGC as parties to the petition.” (Report by Adithi Singh )

As per decision of the CEC of AIBDPA, District leaders of AIBDPA, Kozhikode met Members of Parliament , Shri M.P. Veerendra Kumar and Com. Elamaram Kareem and presented Memorandum to be submitted to Prime Minister on Pension Revision and requested them to take up the matter with the Prime Minister for early settlement. The demand is that the govt should immediately ensure Pension Revision wef from 01.01.2017 to BSNL retirees with 15 % fitment, as the maximum recommended by the III Pay Revision Committee.
Though Shri Veerendra Kumar was not well and was undergoing treatment, he met the delegation, received memorandum, read it and assured that he will take up the matter with central govt.
Com.Elamaram Kareem M.P.was very busy with attending meetings in connection with the agitation against CAA, but still he graciously met us near the meeting place, received the Memorandum, enquired details and assured the delegation that he will take up the matter with government.
Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor AIBDPA, Chandran, Dist President, Balan Punnassery, M.K.Prabhakaran, K.G.Sanjeevan and Rajagopalan consisted the AIBDPA delegation.

It is widely reported in the press about the cruel and dastardly attack on the JNU students, including girls, by RSS-BJP-ABVP hoodlums, who entered the campus with sticks, hammers, swords etc. Many have been hospitalised. This is being done with the support of the Delhi Police, who is under the centre, and the Vice-Chancellor.

Outrage over the attack has been manifested in demonstrations, dharnas, rallies etc. all over the country demanding serious action on the culprits and resignation of the VC.

We strongly condemn the attack and demand the government to take immediate action to arrest the culprits and dismiss the Vice-Chancellor of JNU for his dubious role.

Very good support is being received for the agitational programmes planned by Central Executive Committee of AIBDPA on the issue of Pension revision for BSNL retiree w.e.f. 01-0-12017. The programme is being organised to involve the entire BSNL pensioners on a massive campaign and putting pressure on the government to accede the rightful demand. The programme includes:

1. Submission of Memorandum to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, signed by tens of thousands of pensioners.All pensioners, irrespective of union/association of BSNL/DOT to be approached and signature obtained. It is beneficial to all.
2. Meet all the Members of Parliament and request to take up the issue with the government. A copy of the Memorandum also to be given and matters explained.
3. Massive Hunger Strike on 12th February 2020 in front of the CCA Offices in the circles.
4. Massive March to Parliament on 12th March 2020 being participated by thousands of pensioners.

AIBDPA leaders are approaching all pensioners to get the memorandum signed for being given to the Prime Minister. The more the number of signatures, more pressure on the government. In this connection, I am remembering how the BSNL workers took lakhs of signatures on the Memorandum to the Prime Minister, in a lorry with full of big packets received from the Circle Unions. Not even a single M.P. should be left out. All the M.P.s should be met by our leaders at local level and request them to take up the fully justified matter with the Government. Start the work now itself, without waiting even for one day.

WE DEMAND PENSION REVISION FOR BSNL RETIREES WITH EFFECT FROM 01-01-2017!

Kerala Govt has taken a bold step and passed a resolution in the assembly unanimously opposing the Constitution Amendment Act 2019(CAA). Pinarayi govt has also made it clear that it will not implement the CAA in Kerala.

This bold position is similar to the firm stand taken by the EMS Government in 1968 that it will not implement the Essential Service Maintenance Act which was brought to deal with the One day Strike of 19th September 1968 by the Central govt employees. There were threat of dismissal of the state govt by the centre, but nothing happened.

Statements from many countries and also important personalities have poured in appreciating the stand of the Kerala govt.

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR COMRADES, FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS!

11th December 2019 is the 45th death anniversary of Com.K.G.Bose, the revolutionary leader of the central government and P and T employees. He left us on 11th December 1974 at the comparatively young age of 54 at a London hospital, where he was getting treated for cancer, an incurable disease at that time.

Krishna Gopal Basu, born on 7th July 1921, entered the Posts and Telegraph Department in 1941 as a clerk in the Divisional Engineer, Telegraphs office at Calcutta at a salary of Rs. 45 per month. Father having passed away early, as the eldest son of the family, he has to look after the family and getting a government job was a relief. From the start he was connected with the trade union movement and became an active worker of the then Indian Telegraph Association, formed by Mr. Henry Barton, one of the pioneers of the P and T trade union movement.

In the historic 1946 Postmen strike organised by Com.V.G.Dalvi, Coms. Dada Ghosh and K.G.Bose organised the entire P and T employees in Bengal and Assam making it a complete success. KG was arrested and jailed for months in connection with the declared 1949 strike. He was later dismissed from service and was never taken back. His younger brother, Com.Moni Bose who was working in the same department was terminated in connection with the same strike and never taken back.

K.G.Bose, took an important role in formation of Union of P and T Workers (UPTW) formed in 1947, uniting most of the existing various unions in the department and later National Federation of P and T Unions (NFPTE) on 24th November 1954, with 9 all India Unions affiliated to it. He worked as Circle Secretary of Engg. III and Postal III unions in W.Bengal for a long time. He was also President of the Postal Class Union. His prominent role in the struggle for introduction of Festival Advance for employees along with Dada Ghosh and Sisir Bhattacharjee was well appreciated.He played a vital role in organising the historic strikes central government employees in 1960 and 1968.

K.G.Bose was leader of the progressive section in NFPTE, along with Comrades N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and others. He was elected as the President of NFPTE in 1970 defeating the revisionist leadership led by Com.O.P.Gupta. He toured all over India and organised the workers for struggles. During these years I could meet him several times and his advices were carried out by me.

Continuous journey and hard work resulted in deterioration of his health. He was sent to London for better treatment and passed away there on 11th December 1974. The first building in his memory, “K.G.Bose Bhavan” was constructed in Calicut.

The memory of Com.K.G.Bose will continue to inspire many generations of CG and and P and T workers.

As per the letter issued by the Director (CM) BSNL, to the CGMs, BSNL has provided 14,96,016 new mobile connections in November, 2019. J&K, Maharashtra, Odisha and Assam circles have achieved more than 100% of their targets. BSNLEU heartily congratulates all these circles.

[Date : 07 – Dec – 2019]