06-Feb-2026

Heartiest and heariest Congratulations Comrades Great news for VRS Comrades.
After four years of Marathon Legal Battle in Ernakulam High Court, the Petition filed by SNPWA in Ernakulam High Court challenging the decision of Income Tax to impose Tax on Leave Earned in BSNL for VRS Comrades has been allowed by Ernakulam High Court. No Income Tax has to be levied on Leave Encashment, regardless of whether it is Earned in DOT or in BSNL.
SNPWA took the first step and Challenged it Four Years before in Ernakulam High Court.
A very, very big and Spectacular Victory for this Association and very very Big Salutes to our Beloved CHQ President, Com K.D. Sebstian, and beloved Comrade George Verghese for steering this issue to its logical conclusion. Hatts off and Kudos to both these selfless and committed Comrades.
This fully vindicates the concern of this Association to protect legitimate interests of VRS Comrades. Superb Breakthrough accomplished by SNPWA.
Historic Victory on Leave Surrender - A Landmark Judgment by the Kerala High Court:
The Kerala has today delivered a truly historic and far-reaching judgment on the issue of Leave Surrender.
The Honble Court has categorically upheld our contention that Leave Surrender is fully exempt from Income Tax, irrespective of whether the leave was earned under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) or BSNL . This ruling effectively makes all Leave Surrender amounts blanket tax-free.
The impact of this judgment is monumental . On a pan-India basis, lakhs of employees and pensioners stand to benefit, many of whom will now receive substantial refunds and financial relie f. This verdict marks a decisive victory for fairness, justice, and the rightful entitlements of pensioners.
On behalf of the Central Headquarters (CHQ), we place on record our deep sense of gratitude and congratulations to our Senior Advocate, Shri O. V. Radhakrishnan , who took extraordinary pains and displayed exemplary legal acumen to see this complex issue resolved conclusively.
Words are inadequate to describe the contribution of our own Comrade George Varghese. His tireless, uncompromising pursuit of justice, combined with unwavering commitment and optimism , proved to be a decisive factor in this victory. He was personally present and actively involved in the entire court proceedings throughout, appearing before the Court on no fewer than 48 occasions. Such dedication places him among the most valuable assets of the Association and of pensioners at large.
We also gratefully acknowledge the services of Com. Kamalasan, District President, Ernakulam, and Com. Sabu, District Secretary, who were themselves petitioners in the case. To ensure that the judgment would have general applicability and not remain confined to individual petitioners, the CHQ President himself became the first petitioner on behalf of SNPWA, a step that proved crucial in securing this landmark outcome. Com. Jas Prakash, District Treasurer, deserves special appreciation for being fully and consistently involved throughout the entire process. Kudos to him for his steadfast support. Our thanks are also due to Adv. Soorya Gayathri , who, though a junior advocate at the time, made meaningful and active contributions during the initial stages of the case. We understand that she is now practising at the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and we wish her continued success. None of this would have been possible without the lion-hearted leadership of our General Secretary, who guided us at every stage, instilling the necessary courage, confidence, and clarity of purpose. His dauntless determination, refusal to bow down or compromise in the face of daunting challenges, stands as an inspiration to all of us. We also place on record our sincere thanks to Com. Rajput, our Treasurer , who, while being uncompromisingly strict in financial discipline, extended wholehearted support to this legal battle. Congratulations to SNPWA. This victory once again proves that SNPWA is not merely a force but a pioneer and forerunner of victories for pensioners across the country. Dear comrades This great achievement is not limited to VRS comrades. It is applicable to all absorbed officers retired and would be retired either on superannuation or otherwise

05-Feb-2026

Today Com R.K.Mudgil, GS/ MREWA, and GS/ SNPWA had a detailed discussion with Sr DDG (Est.), MS Roshni Sohni, on following two issues.
A) Extending the benefit of 5% IDA to MTNL Retirees having retired prior to 1.1.2018 Sr DDG informed that the entire proposal is being reworked and that a very strong and positive note is in the process of Finalization by the Establishment Section. The proposal will have to go for the consideration and approval of IDA/ DOT, after which it will be decided whether it has to be sent to D.O.E for its concurrence.
However, as of now, Sr DDG apprised that a very positive feedback is being submitted to IDA/DoT on the issue.
B) Extending the benefit of Notional Increment to VRS Sr DDG informed that a very stiff resistance is being offered by both DoE and DoP&T for extending the said benefit to VRS, in biew of the conditions contained in the Cabinet Note of VRS 2019.
However on being specifically asked by GS as to how DOT, in consultation with DoE.E and DoP&T, issued orders for extending the benefit to a VRS retiree, Sr. DDG informed that it had to be done in haste in view of Contempt in the Supreme Court. After that development, DoE and DoP&T have decided that DOT should contest the ongoing litigations.
Sr. DDG also quoted an adverse order of CAT Ernakulam. GS strongly refuted the contentions of Sr DDG about the order of CAT Ernakulam, ignoring numerous favourable Judgments from various Courts, including Supreme Court. However, Sr DDG firmly maintained that decision not to extend the said benefit is based on explicit instructions from D.O.E and DoP&T.
Thereafter, tried meeting Member(Services). Unfortunately, he was on leave. Shall be meeting him on 11th Feb.

05-Feb-2026

02-Feb-2026

Budget for 2026-2027:
View the Key feature of Budget 2026-2027.

02-Feb-2026

SNPWA CHQ very strongly rebuts and repudiates unwarranted and incorrect observations made by CJI about the role of Trade Unions and is going to issue a statement in this regard.
CITU has already issued a press statement in this regard.
PRESS RELEASE of CITU:
29th January 2026
CITU Expresses Strong Disagreement With The Statement Of The CJI - Urges To Review And Reconsider The Same.
CITU expresses its deep concern over the most unfortunate and unconstitutional statement made by the Chief Justice of India on 29 January 2026 while hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in Penn Thozhilalargal Sangam vs Union of India (W.P.(C) No. 42/2026). Unfortunately, the words of the CJI appeared to resemble those of the advocates of already failed neoliberal policies. It is further embarrassing that the rationale advanced in the statement has neither theoretical soundness nor empirical validity. On the other hand, there exist hundreds of examples which show that organised and protected labour actually contributes more to the growth of productivity.
The statement came at a time when the country was moving towards the 12 February General Strike called by the joint platform of almost the entire trade union movement against the imposition of the Labour Codes. The Labour Codes are designed with the perspective that weakening the right to unionisation and leaving workers defenceless before the attacks of the employer class is the only way towards Ease of Doing Business. The Indian working class has resolutely established the inappropriateness, rather the impropriety, of this theory. Regrettably, the statement of the CJI resembled the political-economic illogic of the Modi Government.
CITU points out that such a statement, particularly from the custodian of the Constitution, undermines the fundamental constitutional right to association. The insinuating remark that trade union leaders are largely responsible for stopping industrial growth in the country can in no way be substantiated by facts on the ground. However, the right to association for Indian workers is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c) of the Indian Constitution. This right is regulated by the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (together with subsequent amendments), which provides for registration and legal immunity for union activities. It enables collective bargaining and representation of workers' interests.
Be it the four labour codes, the Shram Shakti Niti, the dismantling of MGNREGA, various incentive programmes, or legislations accelerating the expropriation of the country's resources for private gains - all form part of the aggressive restructuring of the Indian state in favour of capital and the fast-withering away of the welfare state as envisaged in the Indian Constitution. The statement exposes the changing nature of the Indian state in a very dangerous manner.
As far as the CJI's statement blaming trade unions for industrial closures is concerned, it is totally divorced from factual reality. The Labour Bureau's reports on "Industrial Disputes, Closures, Retrenchments, and Lay-offs in India" are the most comprehensive and objective sources of data on the matter. A closer look at the data reveals a significant decline in industrial disputes, reaching a 17 year low in 2023, with only 30 disputes reported by September 2023. This marks a stark contrast to 2006, which saw the highest number of disputes at 430, followed by 421 in 2008 and 389 in 2007.
From 2006 to 2014, the average number of industrial disputes was 354, but this figure dropped sharply to just 76 between 2015 and 2023. In fact, the total number of industrial disputes has been less than 100 each year since 2018. Moreover, the phenomenon of industrial closures, both legal and illegal, across the states of the country, if examined closely, would reveal that the incidence of closures is much higher in states where the trade union movement is visibly weak or minimal.
Conversely, in a recent written response in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, stated that 2,04,268 private companies were closed over five years due to amalgamation, conversion, dissolution, or being struck off under the Companies Act, 2013. Further, the figures of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) also vindicate the nature and reasons for the closure of industries and the percentage of recovery of debts by creditor public sector banks.
Hence, contrary to the illogical claims of neoliberal apologists, it is not industrial disputes by trade unions that are forcing industrial units to close down. On the contrary, it is the crisis within the capitalist neoliberal order and the unbridled concentration and financialisation of the economy, at the cost of the MSME and the productive sector as a whole, that have led to increasing industrial closures. Trade unions can in no way be made a scapegoat to cover up the failure of the policy regime and economic governance.
The Hon'ble CJI also ridiculed the plea for minimum wages for domestic workers, whereas in many states scheduled minimum wages for domestic workers are already in operation. CITU urges the CJI to review and reconsider the statement.
CITU reaffirms that the upcoming 12 February General Strike, called by the central trade unions and supported by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and the platform of unions of agricultural and rural workers, is not only to defend the hard-earned rights of the Indian people but also to defend and save the national economy from a perverse economic order and governance. The working class has never received anything through the benevolence of institutions or governments; it is only through struggles and sacrifices that rights have been earned and defended, not only for workers but for the people and society as a whole.
Issued by,
Elamaram Kareem, General Secretary.