Bank Pension From 1993 Agreement to Supreme Court

By Maninder Singh Bhatia on Bank Pension Updating

​The issue of pension updation for bank employees and pensioners is neither new nor a recently emerged matter. Its roots trace back to the historic Memorandum of Settlement dated October 29, 1993. This agreement was executed between the management of 58 banks—represented by the Indian Banks' Association (IBA)—and the bank employees' unions. A Supreme Court judgment also explicitly records the reference to this agreement and its Clause 12.​

The primary objective of this agreement was to introduce a pension scheme for bank employees. Under this settlement, pension was implemented as a second retirement benefit with an effective date of November 1, 1993. Provisions were also made regarding the pension rate, qualifying service, Dearness Relief, commutation, and other terms.

​However, the most crucial aspect of this agreement is Clause 12. It stated that provisions should be made in the pension scheme for the "updating" of pension, alongside other terms, and that these provisions should align with those prevailing in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

​Furthermore, the 1993 agreement specified that Dearness Relief for pensioners should follow the Dearness Allowance formula in effect at the RBI. This clearly demonstrates that the RBI pension model served as a vital reference point for the architects of the bank pension framework at that time.

​Subsequently, the Bank Employees' Pension Regulations were framed in 1995. From this point onward, the legal interpretation of pension updation grew increasingly complex. Later, Regulation 35(1) was amended in 2002, stating that basic pension and, wherever applicable, additional pension "shall be updated" as per the formula provided in Appendix-I.

​This became the main point of legal contention between pensioners and bank management/the government. Pensioners argued that if the 1993 agreement envisioned pension updation on the lines of the RBI and the 2002 amendment used mandatory phrasing like "shall be updated," the benefits ought to extend broadly to all pensioners. On the other hand, differing judicial opinions emerged across various court levels regarding its legal interpretation and scope.​

Writer M S Bhatia

Against this backdrop, the M.C. Singla case has gained significant prominence and is currently sub-judice before the Supreme Court. During the hearing on July 22, 2026, the Supreme Court specifically noted the argument that updation under the amended Regulation 35(1) of 2002 should apply to all employees, pointing out that this updation was omitted in calculating the annual pension of retired employees. The Court directed PNB to file an additional affidavit along with supporting documents, while also calling for relevant records spanning the 7th to 12th Bipartite Settlements.

​As of September 2026, the matter remains pending before the Supreme Court. The case was listed on September 9, but the hearing could not take place; according to information released by pensioner associations, efforts are underway to have it re-listed for the next hearing. Therefore, it would be premature to claim that the Supreme Court has delivered any final verdict in favor of pension updation.

​To fully understand this entire matter, the document of October 29, 1993, serves as a crucial historical piece of evidence. It clearly shows that "updating" was not excluded during the formulation of the pension scheme, but was explicitly incorporated into Clause 12 of the settlement.

​Today, with massive structural shifts in bank salary and pension calculations, the vital question for thousands of veteran pensioners is whether their pensions should also be updated periodically. The definitive legal answer now rests with the pending proceedings in the Supreme Court.

​Hence, the 1993 agreement is not merely a founding document for bank pensions, but a foundational pillar of the ongoing legal discourse on pension updation.

​(The author is a former banker, trade unionist, and social activist.)

Solar Revolution within 120 Days:Aman Arora

Tuesday: 7 Jan, 2025, 18:21 Development News from Gurjeet Billa//DPR PUNJAB Edit By Karthika Kalyani Singh

Solar Revolution within 120 Days:Aman Arora 

 663 More Agri-Solar Pumps to be installed

*Directs PEDA officials to make all-out efforts to achieve the target of 20K solar pumps

*New & Renewable Energy Sources Revolution in Punjab

*Minister hands over work order to a firm for the installation of solar pumps

Chandigarh:7th January 2025: (Gurjeet Billa//Punjab Screen Desk)::

In order to give further impetus to natural energy for decarbonizing the state’s agricultural sector, the Punjab Government will install additional 663 solar water pumps for agricultural use within the next 120 days. This was announced by Mr. Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources Punjab.

 

Mr. Aman Arora, on Tuesday, handed over work order to M/s. AVI Renewables Energy Pvt. Ltd. for the installation of 663 solar pumps for agricultural use in the state. He also mentioned that a work order for the installation of 2,356 solar pumps had already been issued last month.

 

He directed the PEDA officials to make all-out efforts to achieve the target of installing 20,000 agricultural solar pumps in the state for the welfare of the farmers.

 

This company was selected through a transparent and competitive bidding process. A subsidy of 60% is available for general category farmers, while Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers can receive an 80% subsidy for solar pumps with capacities of 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 HP. In dark zones (over-exploited groundwater blocks), these pumps will be  installed to farmers who already have micro irrigation systems, such as drip or sprinkler systems, set up on their bore-wells, he added.<yyw

 

With the installation of these solar pumps, Mr. Aman Arora said that this will not only reduce fuel costs but also lead to zero carbon emissions, promoting more sustainable farming practices. The farmers will no longer need to visit their farms at night for irrigation, as these pumps operate during the daytime.

 

Director PEDA Mr. M.P. Singh, Joint Director Rajesh Bansal and representatives of the respective firm were also present on the occasion.

------ Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab//<dipr.pb.chdsectt9@gmail.com>

People's anger against black water started boiling

Tuesday 1 October 2024 14:50 PM WhatsApp

If the government stops it, then OK otherwise we will stop the source  

Ludhiana: 1st October 2024: (Media Link//Punjab Screen Desk)::

"Kaale Paani da Morcha" (A front against the black polluted water), which was going on in a very peaceful manner, is now seen in full rage and anger. The treatment meted out to this historic old river Budha Dariya, which touched the feet of Sahib Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, is extremely condemnable and unfortunate. People are angry due to the conspiratorial behavior adopted by the society and industrialists as well as politicians.

To raise the demand to stop this dangerous black poisonous water, educated and civilized people sometimes have to stay in the custody of Chandigarh Police, sometimes have to sit on dharna, sometimes have to take out protest march and sometimes have to hold press conferences hiding from the eyes of the police. The only fault is that these people have raised the demand to stop the spread of black water poison which causes diseases like cancer. For this purpose, the historic front of black water is continuing. Why does the government not accept their demands? What is the fault of all these people? Is it anyone's fault to raise voice against pollution?

The leaders of this front, who have made sensational revelations many times, have directly demanded that the illegal poisonous black water of more than ten crore liters per day from the three Dieng CETPs should be stopped at the ground level. Why are the governments and society confused about this poison which is playing with the health of the people?

Today, during the press conference organized by this front against black water in Ludhiana, the leaders of the front said that in the last few days, the government has taken a very important decision to stop three illegal common wastes of the dyeing industry for a long time through the Punjab Pollution Control Board. The treatment plant (CETP) has been ordered to be closed. The three Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) operating these plants are operating under the nose of the government in gross violation of the law and the conditions of 2013 received from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Water Resources, and are illegally discharging water into the river. According to government data, this poisonous water is 1.5 crore liters per day, which is being supplied for drinking to the people of Punjab and Rajasthan through Sutlej.

Jaskirat Singh, a senior leader of Kala Pani Morcha, said that the Morcha had recently announced that a dharna would be held on Ferozepur Road from October 1, after which the people of Punjab would protest against the discharge of Kala Pani. Sutlej and Budha rivers will be killed by damming them. Two days after this announcement, the Punjab government has issued orders to close three major CETPs of dyeing. In this changed situation, the next program is being given today by Kale Paani Da Morcha, in which the dharna on Ferozepur Road on October 1 is being given only as a signal and the big program on December 3 has been announced by holding a press conference, the conference is going on at the same place.

Amitoj Mann, on behalf of the Morcha, said that our Kala Paani Dam program was always to close those poisonous outlets that are pouring industrial and other poisonous water into the Budha river. Therefore, some people of Ludhiana who were worried about the closure of Budha river in the past days, they have no need to be afraid. We invite them to get rid of this fear and join the program in large numbers to close only the illegal outlet of poisonous black water.

Lakkha Sidhana said that Panchayat elections have been announced in Punjab in the coming days and after that it is the time of paddy harvesting, there is a call to all the people of Punjab to close these two illegal big pipes in front of Ludhiana Central Jail in Jamalpur, Ludhiana and close the biggest source of 9 crore liters per day.

Dr. Amandeep Singh Bains said that these are illegal outlets of Dyeing CETP Tajpur Road and CETP Focal Point and a successful rehearsal has been done to identify and block them. Their GPS location is 30.919924, 75.913612 through which the government and the people of Punjab can easily reach them. To dam the black water, it is necessary to close both of them first and if the government does not do its work then the public will have to complete this work, which they will again complete with full enthusiasm on December 3.

In this serious situation created by the ignorance of the orders of Central Pollution Control Board, NGT and even Supreme Court of zero liquid discharge by PPCB officials, Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Kapil Arora have demanded the DGP of Punjab to take action on this complaint of collusion between Punjab Pollution Control Board and big businessmen of dyeing industry. The Front submitted a memorandum to the Police Commissioner Ludhiana to restore the rule of law so that people can have faith in the law.

Now it remains to be seen when and what steps the government, society and the industrialists themselves take to stop this poisonous water that is making people cancer patients. It would be great if the concerned parties come forward to stop this poisonous water before the call day of 3 December arrives. This would be loyalty towards the interests of Punjab.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations at Kirpal Sagar Continued

 Sunday 4th February 2024 at 18:18

"Unity of Man" is also active for the welfare of society

Nawan Shehar: 4th February 2024: (Karthika Kalyani Singh//Pujab Screen Bureau)::

Golden Jubilee celebration started yesterday at Kirpal Sagar by  the team of Unity of Man organization. This time again many arrangements mad by the management of Kirpal Sagar for the purpose. Management is going to make it another mile stone on the eve of birth anniversary of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji.   

Briefing the details Dr. Karamjit Singh said, Unity of Man, the organization was established by Sant Kirpal Singh Ji in 1974. He handed over the reins of this organization to Dr. Harbhajan Singh. Dr. Harbhajan Singh ji got the Unity of Man organization registered and the representatives of this organization living  in India and abroad continued the social service work under the banner of this organization.

For the last 50 years, this organization has been working earnestly to carry out social work, but its first task is the unity of man. Mr. Wolf Gang Gerlich President of Unity of Man, Austria Wing  Europe, said he has been associated with this organization since 1990. It is their good fortune to work for this organization on the land of Punjab. Among the basic operations, the medical hospital and the free medical camps being conducted by it have been its special achievement.

Mrs. Parminder Kaur, the vice chairperson of the organization, said, special representatives from Asia, Europe, America, Canada, Kirpal Sagar  arrived  at KIRPAL SAGAR to attend the conference .  Mrs. Eva Wahl, who came from Germany, said, Dr. Harbhajan Singh ji and Biji  Surinder Kaur ji have given a strong example of unity to the world by creating a place with a unique identity like Kirpal Sagar.  Mrs. Raggine Weise said, Kirpal Sagar is such a place where you can realise the Oneness. Peace Begins From the Heart,, and the motto of Kirpal Sagar,, Be Good Do Good And Be One,, is the real example of this organisation. Prof. Peter Schmuck from Germany said, The organic aspect of Kirpal Sagar is very forward and a message of health.  Symbol of unity,   is the greatest need of the world.

Secretary of the organization Ashok Kumar Raina said, on the occasion of Sant Kirpal Singh ji's birthday, the Unity of Man organization will distribute Tricycles to disabled persons, Sewing machines to girls and Blankets to elderly people as per the need of the hour on February 6. 

Mr. Gurjit Singh, Principal of Kirpal Sagar Academy, said, Being the host of such a global program, all their attention is directed towards ensuring that the visiting guests from the country and abroad do not face any kind of difficulty. 

During this press conference Sardar Karam Singh Brar, Master Resham Singh, Mr Narinder Singh were present among the special persons of the country and abroad. 

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