Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 14: Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation (JKMEF), Jammu Province, today submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, urging immediate restoration of two and a half days’ salary of non-gazetted employees of the Health and Medical Education Department .
A delegation led by JKMEF president Jaswinder Singh raised strong objections to Order Number Acctt/236/2022-02 dated January 20, 2026, seeking its immediate revocation. The Federation also referred to Order Number 807-HME of 2015, under which the Director Finance had stopped the allowance equivalent to two and a half days’ salary by invoking SRO-91 dated March 23, 1982.
The Federation argued that under SRO-20 of 1991 and SRO-334 dated July 13, 2022, the definition of Ministerial Staff has been clearly laid down and only limited categories fall within its ambit. It maintained that certain categories such as Laboratory Assistants, Drivers, Sanitary Staff and Multi-Tasking Staff had earlier been declared ministerial, leading to confusion and denial of legitimate benefits.
Highlighting the impact of the decision, the delegation said health institutions across Jammu and Kashmir are already grappling with an acute shortage of staff due to numerous vacancies. The stoppage of the salary component, they said, has led to demoralization and resentment among employees who continue to serve under challenging conditions. The move has also created administrative ambiguity, adversely affecting hospital functioning and patient care.
Later, the delegation met MLA Sham Lal Sharma, who assured them that he would take up the matter with Health Minister Sakina Itoo for an early resolution.
Among others present were Sushil Sudan, chairman JKMEF and Member PCI, and Sheikh Mehraj-ud-Din, chairman JKGPA. The Federation expressed hope that the Government would sympathetically consider their demand and restore the deducted salary at the earliest
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