The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) saga continues to captivate the hearts and minds of government employees in Punjab and Haryana, as the Pension Bahali Sangharsh Samiti gears up for a series of Sankalp marches across the state. This ongoing struggle, spanning over 18 years, has seen employees endure police action, lathi charges, and water cannons during their protests. Despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court's recent verdict, which brought a glimmer of hope by ruling in favor of certain categories of employees, the Samiti remains steadfast in its demand for the full restoration of OPS for all government employees.
The court's decision, as explained by the district general secretary, Sanjay Singhmar, opens the door for around 20,000 employees to benefit from OPS. The verdict covers employees who were initially recruited before the October 28, 2005, cut-off date but were re-advertised; those appointed on a temporary basis before January 1, 2006, and later regularized; and employees appointed on compassionate grounds after October 28, 2005, with applications submitted before the cut-off date. However, the court's rejection of the demand to consider August 18, 2008, as the cut-off date for the National Pension System (NPS) in Haryana remains a point of contention.
Singhmar's impassioned plea to the state government is clear: restore OPS for all employees. He argues that the government's inaction has led to the current legal battle, and that timely action could have prevented the need for court intervention. The Samiti's determination is unwavering, with plans for OPS Sankalp marches in several districts and a major protest outside the Chief Minister's residence in Kurukshetra on February 7, 2027. This ongoing struggle highlights the complex relationship between government policies and the lives of its employees, and the Samiti's relentless pursuit of justice is a testament to the power of collective action.
