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AIRRBEA's Decades-Long Pension and Parity Achieves Success in Supreme Court
All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association Secretary General S. Venkateshwar Reddy hailed the order as a significant triumph, and told Kanal, “This addresses one of the major issues for RRB employees over the last 30 years, during which the past service of employees was overlooked. Unfortunately, nearly 14,000 RRB retirees passed away during this time. AIRRBEA views this as a significant relief for the retired employees, most of whom are now in their seventies, and their families.”
Author: Saurav Kumar
Published: August 14, 2024
The All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA) has secured a landmark victory in its long-standing pension battle. The Supreme Court has directed the Government of India (GoI) to disburse pensions and computer increments to retired and current RRB employees, respectively.
On August 12, 2024, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Mashi delivered an order mandating that pensions be granted to retired employees from their date of retirement, along with the computer increment, a long-awaited benefit.
The Supreme court explicitly directed the government to pay the reasonable amount of the pending arrear by the 2nd week of October 2024.
The court order explicitly states: “Implement the pension scheme in respect of the employees of RRBs w.e.f 01.11.1993, in terms of the Memorandum of Settlement dated 29.10.1993 applicable to Nationalised Commercial Banks and pay consequential arrears of pension/family pension.”
Additionally, it asserts: “Implement and grant computer increment w.e.f 01.11.1993 to all employees who are in service/probation as on 01.11.1993 as per Supplementary Memorandum of Settlement dated 29.10.1993 between Indian Bank’s Association and Employees of Nationalised Commercial Banks, along with payment of arrears.”
The Struggle of Decades
The struggle for pension parity began in 2003 when AIRRBEA first filed a case in the Karnataka High Court. A favourable judgement was delivered in 2011, affirming the rights of RRB employees to receive pensions and computer increments. This ongoing legal battle inspired retirees in Rajasthan also demand these entitlements.
Nagabhushan Rao, the advocate representing RRB retirees in the Supreme Court, expressed his relief, stating, “The Supreme Court's order is a victory after a 21-year legal battle. However, the Government of India’s response will be crucial in determining the final outcome for thousands of RRB retirees.”
Rao further stated, “The next hearing of the case is scheduled for October 21, 2024. The Government of India has been directed to pay the first installment to the RRB retirees before Deepavali, with the entire process expected to be completed by March 31, 2025.”
AIRRBEA Secretary General S. Venkateshwar Reddy hailed the order as a significant triumph, and told Kanal, “This addresses one of the major issues for RRB employees over the last 30 years, during which the past service of employees was overlooked. Unfortunately, nearly 14,000 RRB retirees passed away during this time. AIRRBEA views this as a significant relief for the retired employees, most of whom are now in their seventies, and their families.”
Reddy further noted, “This milestone achievement in securing pension and parity is a significant boost for the younger generation of RRB employees, encouraging them to seek further parity and challenge the New Pension Scheme."
The issue of pension has been a persistent concern for AIRRBEA and was highlighted during the 12th Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting. According to the National Federation of Retired RRB Staff (NFRRRBS), there are over 18,000 retired RRB employees, and this court order brings renewed hope to thousands of them.