Way back in 2009, recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission were introduced in the State. The Pay Commission essentially tried to bring about regularization in the pay scales of various categories and grades of employees in the Centre and subsequently the States also followed the precedent to bring about regularization in pay scales of their respective cadres. Its recommendations were applied to the State employees also but along with application of the recommendations, some grave anomalies surfaced especially in the case of the salaries of lower grade and upper grade clerical cadres. Consequently, these needed to be regularized and for this purpose Pay Anomaly Committee was appointed by the Government in October 2009 to advise on the removal of the same. A year later, in December 2010, the said Committee made its recommendations sanctioning therein grant of financial incentive equal to two increments at the time of passing of the Secretariat Assistants Examination conducted by PSC either at the level of Junior Assistants or Senior Assistants on prospective and non-compounded basis by corresponding deletion of such provisions which were earlier in vogue. However, these recommendations remained in limbo as the government was not in a mood to implement them in letter and in spirit. The result was that the clerical cadres felt disappointed and adopted protesting stance to force their demands. Finally an agreement was struck between the Union of clerical cadres and the Government and in January 2012 the Government agreed to look into case and revive the recommendations of the Pay Anomaly Committee. The Committee met and discussed the issue once again but consensus of opinion among its members could not be achieved.
The Government failed to resolve the issue and the aggrieved party went to the court of law to seek justice. Thereafter, a committee headed by the Chief Secretary was constituted to look into the recommendations of the Pay Anomaly Committee once again. The current status of the case as revealed by the Minister of State for Finance is that the Committee has met at various occasions and the matter is under its consideration.
Eight years have passed when the issue was taken up. In the beginning it appeared a minor issue without many complications. But as time went by, it was found that there were many hitches in the way and the government had many after thoughts. The question is that once the Government agreed to constitute a Pay Anomaly Committee, that means the government recognized there are anomalies which need to be regularized. The Committee was supposed to identify the anomalies and also recommend their removal which it did to the best of its wisdom. It is obvious that before the Committee disclosed its recommendations, it must have consulted and sought the opinion of the government also. After all, the type of assignment given to the Committee was akin to mediation. Common sense says that the Committee would not make recommendation unless it had sounded the Government of what was justifiable to bring about a resolution. It seems there are elements within the Government that have hindered smooth resolution of the matter. There is no sense in the Committee just meeting and resolving nothing. It is unjust and the Finance Department should not delay the matter any more.
It is learnt that the State government is mulling to implement the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission and that the issue is already under its consideration. It is regrettable that while the beneficiaries of the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission are preparing to have more benefits from the 7th Pay Commission, those who are still deprived of the benefits of 6th Pay Commission will be left behind once again. This is unjust and unfair. We are governed by the rule of law and not by jungle rule. The clerical cadres need to be given just and equitable treatment.
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