Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 14: While demanding a 5 per cent increase in pensions every five years, the Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Pensioners United Front (PUF) today accused the J&K Government of depriving pensioners of their legitimate rights and entitlements, despite repeated representations.
Addressing a press conference here, PUF president Abdul Qayoom Wani said the Government remains non-serious about resolving the long-pending issues faced by pensioners and granting their due rights.
“Debarring pensioners from gratuity, leave salary, GP Fund, and commutation loan for the last one year is a gross violation of their rights. Such an indifferent attitude by the Government towards its own employees and pensioners is totally unacceptable and a brazen breach of established laws,” he said.
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Wani further alleged that in a “shameful act,” the commutation leave sanctioned in favour of pensioners is not being credited to their accounts, even as installments are being deducted from their family pensions without actually disbursing the commutation loan.
“While central government employees and pensioners receive a Rs 1,000 monthly medical allowance, and the UT of Ladakh has also enhanced the same from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000, the file for enhancement in J&K, despite the Chief Minister’s commitment, is gathering dust in the Civil Secretariat,” he added.
He said that even in cases where courts have issued directions and contempt notices regarding excess deductions on commutation loans, the J&K Government continues to ignore court orders.
Wani reiterated the demand that pensions of J&K pensioners be increased by 5% every five years after retirement, instead of the existing provision of a 20% hike at the age of 80.
The PUF, affiliated with the All India State Pensioners Federation, also demanded the immediate release of frozen DA installments from the Covid period, early restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, implementation of SRO-59 of 1990 in the medical department, and removal of pay anomalies in various departments including the Fisheries Department.
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