Message from Shri GL Jogi, General Secretary, Sanchar Nigam Pensioners Welfare Association (SNPWA)
Dear Comrades,
The SNPWA CHQ is confident that all office-bearers, Circle and District Secretaries, and committed activists have completed thorough organisational preparations to ensure the Dharna on 9 January 2026 is disciplined, massive, and successful.
True to its legacy of struggle, SNPWA will stand at the forefront of this movement to decisively defeat the Government’s well-planned assault on workers, pensioners, farmers, and other toiling sections.
There must be no illusion: the present Government is systematically moving to undermine and ultimately abolish the pension system. This is not policy drift but a deliberate, phased strategy aimed at stripping pension of its constitutional character and reducing it to a discretionary dole.
The Finance Bill, 2025 marks a dangerous turning point by granting the Government unchecked, unbridled authority over pensions, in direct violation of settled Supreme Court jurisprudence—most notably D. S. Nakara vs Union of India (1982)—which affirmed pension as a deferred right, not charity, and prohibited discrimination among pensioners, besides trampling over Historic 13 member Constitutional Bench Judgment of Supreme Court which adjudicated in Keshavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala that defined Basic Structure of the Constitution, and affirmed unequivocally that Parliament/ Legislature has no authority/ jurisdiction to Amend/ Alter, in any manner, basic structure of the Constitution, including Article 14 that forbids Discrimination of Pensioners on the basis of their D.O.R
The validation of the CCS Pension Rules, 1972 through the Finance Bill is a calculated attempt to negate the Nakara judgment and deny pension revision to existing and future pensioners, in defiance of the Basic Structure Doctrine and Article 14.
The intent to dismantle pensions became clearer with the 8th Central Pay Commission Terms of Reference, which conspicuously omit pension revision, falsely brand OPS as “unfunded and non-contributory,” and remain silent on the date of effect—an unprecedented departure from established practice.
This narrative was reinforced by remarks from the Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser portraying pensions as an avoidable fiscal burden—an argument that ignores the reality that pensions are deferred wages and earned entitlements.
In truth, the ₹10 lakh crore Pension Corpus is a ring-fenced fund built from employees’ deferred wages and contributions. Pensions are funded, contributory, and constitutionally protected—not a burden on taxpayers.
Through such deceptive manoeuvres, the Government seeks to turn public opinion against pensioners and pave the way for replacing pensions with a market-linked, pseudo-capitalist system that will expose retirees to lifelong insecurity.
Comrades, the message is clear: pensions are under existential threat.
Legal action is underway under the banner of the FCPA, but rights are secured only when legal struggle is backed by mass, united action. The email campaign is ongoing; the next decisive step is before us.
District-level demonstrations on 9 January 2026
This is not optional.
This is not symbolic.
Every member of SNPWA must participate. Silence today will mean surrender tomorrow.
Let us rise:
To defend our dignity
To protect our livelihood
To uphold constitutional rights
Let us draw strength from the farmers’ movement— emulating its unity, resilience, discipline, and resolve that forced the Govt. back to the wall unceremoniously —and confront this assault on our existence, survival and dignity collectively, with unseen fortitude, conviction and commitment
Each member matters.
Together, we are a force.
No excuses.
No retreat.
Rise. Unite. Act.
In solidarity,
GL Jogi, GS, SNPWA