Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer Passes Away

04 Thursday Dec 2014

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Justice  V.R.Krishna Iyer, famous jurist and social activist passed away today, 4th December, at a private hospital at Kochi. He had celebrated his 100th Birthday Anniversary only one month back.

Justice Krishna Iyer was earlier an Advocate, Minister and thrice MLA. He was the Law and Home Minister in the first Communist Ministry in Kerala in 1957, under the Chief Minister ship of Com. EMS Namboodiripad. His contribution to the historic  Land Bill and other progressive laws adopted during the ministry is well known. He was  with the Left and was jailed for taking up the case of communists in the 1950s.

At the time when he was practising at Tellicherry as an advocate before shifting to Kochi, he was closely connected with the P&T Trade Unions.

Later,  Krishna Iyer was posted as High Court Judge and then Supreme Court Judge.  During his tenure in these posts, Justice Krishna Iyer delivered hundreds of judgments, most of which are considered as path breaking judgments. The judgment invalidating the election of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi shows his deep faith in judiciary and legal clarity.

After his retirement, Justice Krishna Iyer spent his full time as a social activist and a fighter for democratic rights. He was connected with many social movements even at his advanced age till death. Justice Krishna Iyer was the recipient of many awards, including Padma Vibhushan.

 

In his death, India and the world itself, has lost a person who has filled the earth with his humanity and justice.

We express our deep grief at the passing away of Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer and convey our condolences to the bereave family.

Rs. 3,785 crore loss for BSNL, Rs. 1,567 crore for MTNL till September

04 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, PSU

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There is no relief for BSNL and MTNL from the losses. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications Minister, told the Parliament yesterday (3rd December 2014) that BSNL has recorded a loss of Rs. 3,785 crore and MTNL Rs. 1,567 crore till September 2014 in the present financial year. BSNL has been posting loss for the last four years. The case of MTNL is not different.

The Minister also stated that the loss has come due to decline in Revenue and increase in expenditure. But the fact is that the expenditure has only marginally increased, whereas the revenue has gone down drastically from the earlier Rs. 40,000 crore to rs. 26,000 crore, while the expenditure is almost the same at about Rs. 34,000 crore.  The expenditure on wages has been stagnating at about Rs. 14,000 crore for the last three-four years, since  large number of employees, about 10,000 to 15,000 are retiring yearly and no recruitment is taking place.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives has given a call for Indefinite Strike from 3rd February 2015 to compel the government and BSNL Management to take initiative and  honour the assurances given at the time of corporatisation, so that BSNL can restore its past glory and provide a better service to the people.

One more Disinvestment – Sale of 5% Shares in SAIL

04 Thursday Dec 2014

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The BJP government has started the sale of shares of PSUs. The present target is Steel Authority of India. it is proposed to sell 5% share immediately, which the government spokes man claims to fetch the government Rs. 1,700 crores.

Stop the selling of the Family Silver! Assets are of the people and the government is only the manager. You can not sell the property of the nation.

 

Hindustan Zinc Limited being privatised

04 Thursday Dec 2014

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Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), the Public sector Company is going to be fully privatised with the residual share of 29.5% also being offered to the Vedanta Group, which is already having majority shares. The Finance ministry has started preparation for the sale and consequent privatisation.

One more asset of the people is going to be in the hands of the private corporate. It is the nation’s loss.

India in 85th position in Corruption Index

04 Thursday Dec 2014

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According to the Corruption Perception Index report by the Transparency International,  India is in 85th position in the Corruption Index. The index is arranged according to the level of corruption. Denmark leads the first position with minimum corruption followed by New Zealand and Denmark following closely.

According to the report out of 175 countries, India’s position was 94th last year, which has been come up to 85th position indicating that corruption level as reduced by 9 points. So far so good. But still it is one of worst corrupted states in the world.

A Corruption Free India should be the target of each and everybody. Even if corruption can not be completely erased, it can at least be substantially reduced.

 

 

Parliament March by Postal Employees on 4th December 2014

04 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by in CG Employees, Postal Service, TU News - India

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More than 20,000 Postal workers are expected to March to the Parliament today, 4th December 2014, to press their major demands, which are pending for long time and which the government have either rejected or is delaying in taking decisions. The March has been called by both NFPE and FNPO as also Unions of Gramin Dak Sevaks, affiliated to NFPE and FNPO, the two recognised Federations in the Department of Posts.

The demands include inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks under 7th Central Pay Commission and grant of status of civil servants, Casual Wage Revision, Merger of DA with Pay, Grant of Interim Relief, Scrap New Pension Scheme, Compassionate Ground Appointments, Cadre Restructuring, Filling up of Vacant Posts etc.

It is stated by the Postal Federations that decision has been taken to go for Indefinite Strike in February 2015, the dates for which will be announced in the Parliament March.

We fully support the demands of the Postal Workers and extend all solidarity. We also demand the government and Department of Posts to accept the fully justified demands raised by the Postal Federations.

SC Bench to hear Social related cases

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

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NEW DELHI:  In an unprecedented move, the Chief Justice of India has set up a special bench of two judges to hear cases related to social issues.

Chief Justice HL Dattu said starting next week, the “Social Justice Bench” will meet every Friday afternoon to handle Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and other petitions on issues ranging from the availability of night shelters for the homeless to whether children in government schools are being provided free mid-day meals and the efficacy of the Public Distribution Scheme which is meant to provide poor families access to subsidized grain.

He said the Supreme Court must play “a proactive role to meet the goals of the constitution.”

The two judges who will handle these cases every Friday are Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice UU Lalit.    (Courtesy: NDTV)

100% FDI in Construction Sector; One more Century by NDA Government

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

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The NDA government is hitting century after century! Days back it allowed 100% FDI in Railways. Telcom Sector also 100% is ordered. Now 100% FDI is sanctioned for Construction sector.

But these centuries have a difference. It is the preparation for handing of the vital assets of the country to Foreign Finance. Defeat this sinister game of the BJP dominated NDA rule. We want the assets of India to Indians and not to MNCs and International Finance.

 

 

The National Protest Day on 5th December 2014 – Participate Massively

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in BSNLEU, Forum, TU News - India

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The National Protest Day on 5th December 2014 called by the 11 Central Trade Unions, shows the determination of the working class to fight  against the anti-labour, anti-people policies of the government without any break. The day will be observed all over the country, jointly by the Central trade Unions and Independent Federations of the Central, State, PSU employees and others.

It is necessary that joint demonstrations are held every where. We should be part of this great movement, with maximum participation. It is also expected that the Central Trade Unions may take decision on the next phase of programme.

Rs. 34,000 crore written off by PSU Banks

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

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The Public Sector Banks, including SBI, have written off Rs. 34.409 crore of bad of NPA (bad loans)during financial year 2013-14. This includes one time settlements also. This comes to about 34.05 % of the Non-Performing Assets. In 2012-13, Rs. 27,231 crore were written off.

These bad loans are mainly loans given to the corporates and  big business and not returned. If common people take any loan and is not paid back, coercive measures are taken and the loan got returned. But, when it is the case with the corporates and big business, it is written off. No action is taken against them. Is this justice? One rule for the rich and powerful and another for the common people? This should be exposed.

The Indian Banks Association is denying the demands of the Bank Employees’ Unions for wage revision with adequate fixation stating that there is no money. But they can simply write off Rs. 34,000 crores and similar amount every year, closing the loans of the rich and powerful without getting it back?