Jammu and Kashmir to implement Pay Commission soon. Govt also thinking enhancement of retirement age.

Jammu and Kashmir government is likely to implement the recommendations of sixth pay commission with regard to the government employees besides enhancing the retirement age from 58 to 60 years well before the state goes for assembly polls by the end of this year. 

Well informed sources said that a high level committee constituted by the government to look into the recommendations of the sixth pay commission and its financial impact over the state has almost completed the report and was waiting for the Governor NN Vohra’s green signal for presenting the report before the advisors. 

The Committee, sources said, is headed by financial commissioner BL Bhat and comprises of Basharat Bhat, commissioner secretary General Administrative Department (GAD) and BB Vayas, financial commissioner Home as its members.

Sources told News Agency of Kashmir that governor NN Vohra has recently asked his advisors to gear up the process so that the recommendations of sixth pay commission can be implemented well before the assembly elections. 

“If all goes as it seems the state government employees will be getting the enhanced salary as per the new recommendations implemented by the central government before December”, sources, preferring anonymity, said. 

They said that another important announcement for the state government employees was in pipeline and final decision was to be taken in next couple of days. “The government has almost decided to enhance the retirement age of the government employees to 60 years from 58”, sources said. 

The proposal mooted and formulated during the Congress-PDP government was termed as “last wish” of this government by the then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was planning to rope in the government employees by enhancing their retirement age. 

Sources said that Azad was very keen to implement the decision and all the ground work in this regard was also completed in his tenure. However, his government fall well before the decision could have been implemented. “He was planning to announce the decision well before the elections”, sources in the civil secretariat said. 

If the sources have to be believed, Governor NN Vohra has also expressed his willingness to go ahead with the decision. “A session of advisors to governor is likely to be held in next few days to take a final decision in this regard”, sources said. 

Source : News Agency of Kashmir.