Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 11: In a petition filed by Jammu Kashmir Ladakh All Departments Clerical Staff Association seeking end to pay anomaly and disparity, High Court today directed the Commissioner Secretary Finance to file status report or appear in person.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi for the petitioners, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed Finance Secretary to file fresh status report by or before the next date, which should indicate the decision taken by the High Level Committee. “In case, status report is not furnished, Commissioner/ Secretary Finance shall remain present in person”, High Court said.
Justice Kotwal further observed, “common ground of both the sides is that a settlement was arrived at between the High Powered Group of Government of Jammu and Kashmir and leaders of unions/associations of employees in a meeting held on September 15, 2011”, adding “as this settlement did not bear any fruit, the employees’ unions approached this court in SWP No.3058/2015 which came to be disposed of at its threshold on November 21, 2015 with the issuance of direction that respondents shall implement the settlement arrived at inter se the parties on September 15, 2011 within a period of two months”.
The employees’ associations have now again approached this court by the medium of this contempt application alleging that even the direction issued by this court has not been complied with, Justice Kotwal said, adding the statement of facts furnished by the Administrative Secretary and the Convenor Pay Anomaly Committee would show that pursuant to the agreement arrived at between the parties on September 15, 2011, the Government revived the Pay Anomaly Committee vide Government Order No.67-GAD of 2012 dated 16.01.2012 to look into the pay anomalies and disparities with respect to the clerical and other categories/cadres.
As there had been no unanimity, so the Government vide Government Order No.420-GAD of 2016 dated 21.04.2016 has constituted a High Level Committee headed by Chief Secretary of the State. “What is thus clear and evident is that no substantial breakthrough has taken place after the compromise and not even after the court direction dated 21.11.2015”, Justice Kotwal said.
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