02-Mar-2026

Dear Comrades,
After issuing of IDA Orders by DPE, our proposed demonstration at CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, on 17th March, 26, along with NCOA, stands cancelled. Sr Economic Advisor/ DPE has been accordingly informed.
-GS SNPWA.

02-Mar-2026

DPE OM dated 27-02-2026 on Payment of IDA at revised rate from 01-01-2026.
View DPE Order copy

27-Feb-2026

Legal Advisor, SNPWA CHQ Com.George Varghese:
Dear Comrades,
According to our understanding Income Tax was deducted from leave encashment amount from majority of VRS Optees. With this judgement all those affected officials will be eligible for refund of the tax deducted from Leave Encashment amount. For this Revised return under section 154 can be filed before 31-3-2026.
Crux of the representation for revised return to be as follows:
I,.............. PAN:.................was a permanent employee of Department of Telecommunication absorbed in to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in terms of Rule 37A of CCS Pension Rules,1972.
At the time of retirement, I received Leave Encashment amounting to Rs. ..........during AY 2020-21. Out of this amount, the leave attributable to the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) period was treated as exempt. However, as per BSNL Letter No.1001J-12/Taxation/BSNL/LE/196 dated 4-5-2012,in respect of the leave pertaining to the BSNL period, exemption was restricted to Rs. 3,00,000/- under Section 10(10AA)(ii), and income tax was deducted on the balance amount.
Sanchar Nigam Pensioners Welfare Association (SNPWA)and two others similarly placed like me filed a Writ Petition (C) 16360 of 2023 before Hon'ble High Court of Kerala praying to set aside BSNL Letter No.1001J-12/Taxation/BSNL/LE/196dated 4-5-2012 being illegal and ultra vires and further prayed for direction to refund of the income Tax deducted illegally from the petitioners with interest.
Hon'ble High Court of Kerala in its judgement in the Writ Petition (C)16360 of dated 06-02-2026 has quashed BSNL Letter No.1001-04/ 2011-12/Taxation/BSNL/LE/196 dated 04-05-2012 and declared that employees of Department of Telecommunication absorbed in BSNL in terms of Rule 37A of CCS Pension Rules,1972 are eligible for full exemption from Income Tax on Leave Encashment under section 10(10AA)(i) of Income Tax Act,1961 .
The Hon.High Court further ordered that the petitioners will be eligible for claiming the refund of the income tax collected against leave encashment by filing revised income tax return in terms of Section 10(10AA)(i).
(Copy of the judgement dated 06-02-2026 in WP(C) 16360 of 2023 is enclosed)
I am a member of 1st petitioner SNPWA and above judgement of the Hon.High Court of Kerala in WP(C) 16360 of 2023 is squarely applicable to me also.

27-Feb-2026

SNPWA creates a history of all kinds Single Handedly:
Historic Judgment delivered by Hon High Court of Kerala, setting aside the contention of U.O.I, MoF, that DOT employees, on their absorption in BSNL, in terms of Sub Rule( 4) of Rule 37( A), cease to be Central Govt. Employees and therefore are not entitled to get Exemption of IT on Leave Earned by them in BSNL, exemption that is granted to Central Govt. Employees.
This is a historic milestone accomplished single handedly by Sanchar Nigam Pensioners Welfare Association by filing Writ Petition, single handedly, in Hon. High Court of Kerala, four years before.
This Judgment enormously strengthens the case of Pension Revision of absorbed BSNL / MTNL Retirees from DoT presebtly in Hon. Delhi High Court since the contention of U.O.I exclusively is that absorbed BSNL / MTNL retirees cease to be Central Govt. Employees on their absorption in BSNL/ MTNL from DOT in terms of Sub Rule 4 of CCS Pension Rules. This argument of U.O.I has been held Null and Void by Ernakulam High Court.
Singular Legal Fight fought by SNPWA in Hon. High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam for Four Years relentlessly.

27-Feb-2026

CRUX OF THE JUDGMENT of Hon. Kerala High Court on Deduction of Income tax on Leave Encashment:
Overriding Argument of U.O I, MoF, that DOT Employees absorbed into BSNL/ MTNL cease to be Central Govt. Employees consequent upon their absorption in BSNL/ MTNL from DOT in terms of Sub Rule 4 of Rule 37( A) of CCS Pension Rules has been held Null and Void by the Ernakulam High Court.
This is precisely the contention of U.O.I in Delhi High Court where it has challenged the Verdict of PB CAT ND directing U.O.I to extend Pensionioners of BSNL/ MTNL Revision of Pension at Par with Central Govt. Pensioners in terms of the decisions of the Govt. in accordance to the recommendations of the 7th CPC.
Besides, all VRS Comrades from whom income tax has been deducted on the Leave Earned by them in BSNL are eligible to get full refund of their Income Tax.
In fact, the case filed by SNPWA in Ernakulam High Court challenged this Action of DOT in deducting I. T on the leave earned by VRS Comrades in BSNL. Huge relief to VRS Comrades.
-G.L.Jogi, GS/ SNPWA.
View Hon. Kerala HC judgement copy on Income tax on Leave Encashment.