In response to the memorandum submitted by the General Secretaries of the Unions and Associations of BSNL on issues created due to all of sudden closure of Sanchar Aadhar App, an urgent meeting was called by Shri A. Robert J. Ravi, CMD BSNL at 1900 Hrs on Monday, 15/12/2025 which was held in the Board Room, Bharat Sanchar Bhavan, Janpath New Delhi.
Dr. Kalyan Sagar Nippani, Director HR and Shri. Rajeev Kumar Kaushik, PGM Pers/SR/RSTG/WI BSNL CO was also present in this meeting.
As the meeting was scheduled with very short notice, except GS SNEA and GS SEWA, other GSs could not attend this meeting and it was attended by their representatives. Apart from GS, from SNEA this meeting was also attended by Shri Balvant Singh Sharma, VP SNEA CHQ.
Starting meeting CMD BSNL expressed displeasure about the letter written by the Unions and Associations and sending its copies at higher level of MoC/MoSC and its publicity on social media when issues are being looked into seriously by the management and own executives of BSNL are working day and night for development of new APP Sanchar Mitra and restoration of Sanchar Aadhar App.
CMD BSNL further expressed that this letter by Unions and Associations is against the own executives of BSNL and Management when there is no difference between Management and leaders of Unions and Associations. He also said that if Unions and Associations want to work against BSNL, then he has nothing to say but he is just advising to take care of the image of BSNL and not write anything against BSNL. He added that he has received many calls about this issue and recently received three calls from Media and press quoting the letter written by Unions and Associations of BSNL which is not a good sign for BSNL. He stressed that he is doing day night efforts and he has seen that concerned executives of BSNL are working day and night and he has personally seen some executives working till 0230 hrs in early morning and till leaders of Unions and Associations are writing negatively. He added that leaders should take update information for which management is ready and any time leaders can approach Director HR PGM Pers and get update information.
We responded that we have not written anything against BSNL or BSNL Management and we have mentioned only critical issue/s faced by filed units due to suddenly stopping all important and smoothly operating activities through Sanchar Aadhar App from 01/12/2025 and no updates from the Management till today.
We also added that some individual associations/unions have written on this subject but it was not responded to by the Management. Hence we have submitted with the signatures of all General Secretaries of Unions and Associations of BSNL and nothing is written against BSNL or its management in it. If management would have taken steps to update Unions & Associations on such critically important issues, there was no need for any such letter.
We also reminded that earlier regular meetings were conducted by CMD BSNL updated Unions and Associations, but in the recent past the same has been stopped.
We further added that though we are part of BSNL, we are not part of management and all decisions are being taken single handedly by Management and such issues also need to be clarified by the Management. We added that we have never written against BSNL but unfortunately whenever we write about some issues, the attempts are made by the Management that we are against BSNL, BSNL management or against Government which is always misleading information. We elaborated that nowadays social media is so active that it takes note of even small issues and such big issues are definitely expected to draw the attention of social/press media but from Unions and Associations we have not given anything to social/press media and this letter was internally circulated within Circle/District leadership of Unions and Associations.
CMD BSNL responded that BSNL management is working hard for making BSNL profit making and support of Unions and Associations is very much needed. Unions and Associations should come forward to appreciate the efforts of executives working on development of Sanchar Mitra App and Sanchar Adhar App.
We responded that whenever such updates are shared with us, we are updating it on our websites and we encourage the executives also, but such updates are not shared with us and there is a need for such action on part of Management.
CMD BSNL appreciated efforts by team BSNL Kerala Circle, ITPC Pune, Chandigarh and Hyderabad units for their excellent efforts for developing Sanchar Mitra App in shortest possible time and restoration of Sanchar Adhar app and was optimistic that by week end issues will be cleared and stressed for appreciation by the associations /unions also and asked feedback about recently activated Sanchar Mitra App as substitute to Sanchar Adhaar App.
We have shared that the Sanchar Mitra App started working fine to some extent and submitted that it is reported by the field units that the following functions are not operational in this new App and hence need to be looked into.
- SIM replacement (physical/e- SIM)
- E KYC
- Option for already reserved number
- Post to prepaid conversion and vice versa.
- SIM upgrade
- HR Base login.
- U-SIMs and e-SIM are not included for activation.
- 4G SIM upgradation and SIM replacement not available.
- Special circle wise plans e.g. Krishi plan Patanjali plan Police plan IOT provisioning is not available.
- OA level CAF Approval.
CMD BSNL informed that he is aware of such issues and are being taken care of and directed us to share all these and any further issues reported with Sanchar Mitra App with Shri Saji Kumar, CGMT Kerala.
CMD BSNL replied to many queries and doubts raised by the leaders present in the meeting viz. Sanchar Mitra App is being made user friendly by resolution of issues, efforts are being made for restoration of Sanchar Aadhar App, the activities done by Vendor of Sanchar Aadhar by keeping on hold all password of the system, non-availability of password with BSNL Executives working on this app, issues in finalisation of new tender, issues with extension of old tender and the vendor did not agree for the old tender extension, what are issues on part of ITPC and what is future course of action etc. He also clarified that efforts are being made to restore the Sanchar Adhaar App. He added that Sanchar Mitra and Sanchar Aadhar will go together as both have its importance at this stage.
In conclusion of discussions on Sanchar Aadhar App from his side, CMD BSNL appealed to all Unions and Associations that before going to media and complaining to other offices, get details on any issue from Director HR, PGM Pers/SR or on from him/his office, but avoid approaching media/press and other levels till issues are being cleared from BSNL and we also assured for the taking updates before raising issues at higher level.
After these discussions, CMD BSNL was supposed close discussions citing preassigned meeting for him, but we requested CMD BSNL that we have heard much on development issues but we did not listen single word on resolution of pending HR issues and executives are losing hopes from the Management as nothing is seen as outcome and positive on pending HR Issues and requested to discuss these issues, which was agreed by CMD BSNL.
We expressed that even the issue of Promotions, which has been discussed with him, Director HR and PGM Pers for the last two months, has not moved to a conclusive step and non-resolution of any of the HR issues is the reason for mass disappointments among the executives in BSNL.
CMD asked PGM Pers about the progress and he informed that discussions are held with Associations and efforts are being made for early conclusion by overcoming issues struck up in court cases.
We also narrated that this year is also about to close and every year we are discussing the issues, but no conclusive results are seen. We added that Management may go ahead with any possible promotions and we are ready for it.
CMD BSNL took note of it and directed PGM Pers to take immediate further action by overcoming the pending court cases as discussed in earlier meetings. He appealed associations to stop insisting for promotions for all eligible in one go and be ready for promotions against vacant posts. He added that let the seniors be promoted and others will also get opportunities. CMD BSNL made it clear that he is ready for promotions against vacant posts and not ready for addition of post by any means. He added that let the process of promotions start with hopes that all other executives will also get promotions in coming days and let the chain of promotions start in BSNL mainly in Telecom and Account wing.
We narrated that we are not stopping any promotions, rather we are perusing vigorously for promotions and its management which is struck up in issuing promotions due to issue of reservation and seniority list. If management is coming with any promotions, we are ready for it, but nothing is done by Management even though we associations have together given different proposals for the same.
CMD BSNL directed associations to implead in the pending court cases citing urgency and delay of years in getting promotion for eligible executives.
We responded that already such impleading is done by some individuals and in the last hearing of DGM T promotions, fresh notices have been issued to all concerned. Due to impleading by some affected executives only matter is not decided and any further impleading will not yield desired result, but will delay the decision further. We added that serious efforts are required from Management to appoint a senior advocate as the regular advocate of BSNL is not pressing hard for early hearing and decision in the case and the applicant who has retired from services in Year 2017 is not in hurry of concluding the case by any serious hearing.
CMD BSNL responded that he is ready to send a senior advocate as management also interested in issuing promotions, but till associations express urgency and need of promotions, the case will not be cleared. We responded that we have taken legal opinion and it was informed instead of impleading, respondent should press for regular hearing and early resolution and impleading at this stage may call for issuing fresh notices and replies from all concerned and it may take time of minimum six months to one Year and the regular hearing with impleading and final outcome may take time further.
CMD BSNL added that about 1000 DGM posts are vacant only in Telecom and the same can be filled and we added that we have no issue, if management moves ahead with filling available vacant posts. PGM Pers informed that the issues are of reservations and seniority and promotions can be issued after clearing these issues. We added that we are raising this concern regularly and have elaborated many times that the issues of reservations and seniority can be resolved by promoting all eligible executives in one lot and it is possible only with restoration of LICE Quota posts under SCF Quota as one time measure and restoration of few hundred posts abolished in restructuring review 2020 or by addition of post against additional works allotted to BSNL. This approach can give a permanent solution for all these issues and will give scope for promotion of about 8000 executives in BSNL. CMD BSNL informed that this will require changes in RRs and it will take time and immediate solution is not possible, but we insisted that this is only practical solution and DGMs promoted with additional post will vacant the post as 120 AGM/DGMs are retiring in Year 2026 and about 180 in Year 2027.
We also asked for the proposal of Time Bound Promotions with personal upgradation and CMD BSNL made it clear that the said proposal is not agreed and directed PGM Pers to look into other options. In conclusion of this issue, CMD BSNL directed PGM Pers and Director HR to look into it by holding an immediate meeting of committee members with all recognised associations and update him about conclusions reached for going ahead with promotions.
Then we specifically pointed out the delay of three months in approval of the Wage Negotiation Agreement by the Management Committee and raised concern about it. CMD BSNL asked Director HR about its status, and he responded that the Note is being finalised for the MC Meeting.
CMD BSNL directed him to see that it is taken in the coming MC Meeting. CMD BSNL also inquired with Director HR what is procedure further wherein Director HR informed that after approval of MC, it needs to be approved by Board and then the recommendations will be sent to DoT. CMD BSNL instructed him to expedite the process.
The meeting concluded with thanks from both sides.
