Revised pay structure benefits 0.35 million govt employees in J&K

The revised pay structures announced by the Jammu and Kashmir  government will benefit around 0.35 million employees and 85,000 pensioners in the state at the cost of nearly Rs 1600 crore annually, official sources said today.      

The state government took special permission from the Election Commission to make an announcement in this regard.     

The state government in its April 15 order said the new scales will come into force from July 2009 and pay revision arrears will be admissible from January 1, 2008, sources told PTI here.      

However, payment of arrears is subject to availability of funds and full financing from the Centre, they said.      

J&K is one of the few states which has implemented the sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations, they said.      

Clearing the air on House Rent Allowance (HRA), there is an increase up to 63% on the existing rates in the revised scale.      

In its order, the revised pay scales have also been adopted for employees working in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in the state.      

The upper sealing of gratuity has been enhanced from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh on the central pattern and the computation of pension has been allowed at 50% of emoluments or average emoluments whichever is more beneficial to the government employees, they said.