J&K govt sets up panel for 7th Pay Commission implementation

Setting the ball rolling for the implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has setup a seven-member panel to examine the revision of pay scales of the employees and pensioners.
Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, who presented the budget in the Assembly on January 11, had said the government would implement the 7th Pay Commission from April 1, 2018.
"Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a Pay Committee to examine the revision of Pay Scales of the state government employees, pensioners pursuant to the implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations by the Government of India," commissioner-secretary to the government Khurshid Ahmad said in a government order issued here.

The panel will be headed by Administrative Secretary, Planning Development and Monitoring Department with members as administrative secretaries of Home, Finance, Law & Justice departments and Public Works department (PWD), General Administrative department (GAD), Finance, the officer said, adding that Director Codes, Finance department will be member-secretary of the panel.
The pay committee shall examine the import of recommendations of 7th CPC vis-a-vis the existing pay bands and desirability of changing them suitably, Ahmad said.
The panel shall transform the state government organisations into modern, professional and citizen friendly entities that are dedicated to the service of the people, he said, adding it shall review the structure of medical allowance, compensatory allowance, house rent allowance, temporary move allowance and other allowances.

The Pay Committee shall suggest an overall package keeping in view any other point which may be having direct bearing on the issue of restructuring of the of pay bands, Ahmad said.

It shall also examine the principles which should govern the structure of pension, death-cum-retirement gratuity, family pension and other terminal and recurring benefits having financial implications to the state government employees falling under old pension scheme appointed before 01 01 2016, he said.
The committee shall examine the desirability and need to sanction an interim relief till the time its recommendations are made, and accepted by the government.

The Pay commission will benefit over 4.5 lakh employees besides pensioners in the state, he added.