The UT Government owes a staggering Rs 4,468 crore in pending retirement dues to its former employees, which should serve as a wake-up call for the administration. These arrears-spanning GPF, gratuity, commutation, and leave salary-represent not just figures in an audit sheet but the lifelong savings and entitlements of thousands who have devoted their lives to public service. Despite repeated assurances and partial settlements, the fact that the liability continues to rise month after month is a matter of serious concern, both financially and morally. According to official data, unpaid liabilities include Rs 2,390 crore under GPF, Rs 1,537 crore under gratuity, Rs 332 crore under commutation, and Rs 209 crore under leave salary. While it is true that the Government has cleared a significant amount during the current financial year, the backlog remains substantial and ever-growing. The Finance Department attributes the delays to “budgetary constraints” and “verification processes”, but these explanations offer little solace to pensioners who depend on these payments for their survival.
What makes the situation particularly troubling is that these are not fresh obligations or unanticipated expenditures-they are predictable, recurring, and quantifiable commitments. In an era of digital governance and financial automation, it is easy and practical to estimate annual retirement liabilities well in advance. With proper planning, a dedicated and ring-fenced budget allocation for retired employees could have ensured timely settlements. The persistence of such a large backlog points to systemic inefficiency and misplaced fiscal priorities rather than a genuine resource crunch.
The Government’s decision to create “priority mechanisms” for cases involving medical emergencies, marriages, or tuition needs may seem compassionate on the surface. However, this approach is merely a temporary bandage over a deep wound. The settlement of retirement dues should not depend on individual recommendations or political interventions through the Chief Minister’s Secretariat or legislators’ offices. This ad hoc system of selective prioritisation undermines fairness and transparency, leaving many deserving pensioners waiting indefinitely. Committees and review cycles can offer some relief, but they cannot replace a comprehensive, structured solution to this long-standing problem.
It is worth remembering that for most retired Government employees-especially those from lower cadres-pension and retirement benefits constitute their only source of livelihood. These funds are often earmarked for essential expenses like children’s education, marriages, or medical treatment. The undue delay in releasing such payments is not merely a bureaucratic lapse but an ethical failure that inflicts real human suffering. In many cases, retirees battling chronic illnesses find themselves unable to afford necessary treatment because their own hard-earned money remains stuck in procedural red tape.
The situation, therefore, calls for urgent intervention driven not only by fiscal discipline but also by empathy and responsibility. The Government often cites its focus on infrastructure development and fiscal prudence as justification for delayed payments. However, austerity measures and expenditure control cannot come at the expense of those who have already served their term in public service. Financial governance is not just about balancing books-it is about balancing moral obligations with administrative efficiency.
A more sustainable and humane approach would be to establish a separate Pensioners’ Welfare and Settlement Fund, with annual contributions clearly earmarked in the budget. This fund should operate independently of day-to-day treasury fluctuations, ensuring that no retiree is forced to wait for their rightful dues because of temporary fiscal constraints. Additionally, a time-bound clearance framework-say, within three months of retirement-must be mandated and monitored through a digital dashboard, allowing real-time transparency and accountability.
The onus now lies squarely with the Jammu and Kashmir Government to break this cycle of delay and neglect. Merely reiterating commitments to fiscal discipline or welfare cannot substitute for tangible action. Timely clearance of retirement dues is not an act of charity-it is the fulfilment of a legitimate obligation. The Government must act decisively, not just to restore financial order, but to reaffirm the values of compassion, fairness, and respect for its workforce. The time for ad hoc responses is over; what is needed now is a concrete, accountable, and compassionate solution.
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