Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 13 July: Demands for granting Rs 4600 grade pay to Uttarakhand police constables once again echoed in Dehradun as various political parties and social organisations took out a Police Rights March, today.
Members of the Congress, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Mool Nivas Bhu Qanoon Sangharsh Samiti, Jan Adhikar Manch, Swabhiman Morcha and other groups gathered outside Parade Ground before marching towards the Police Headquarters.
As the procession advanced, police stopped the demonstrators with barricades, leading to heated exchanges. Some protesters attempted to climb over the barricades but were forcibly brought down, resulting in scuffles and chaos for a considerable time. Eventually, the district administration officials arrived at the spot and a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted to them.
Congress spokesperson Advocate Sandeep Chamoli said that the police constables recruited in 2000 and 2001 have served for over two decades yet remain deprived of their rightful grade pay. He alleged that despite repeated announcements by the Chief Minister, the demand for Rs 4600 grade pay has been ignored, and warned that the agitation would now be intensified. He declared that, if the demand is not met soon, the next protest will be staged in the Chief Minister’s home constituency of Khatima. Political parties and social organisations signed the memorandum demanding immediate enhancement of grade pay for police personnel.
It may be recalled that during the first recruitment of constables in Uttarakhand in 2001, the entry grade pay was fixed at Rs 2000. As per the rules then, increments were considered due after 8, 12 and 22 years of service. Accordingly, the 2001 batch received 2400 grade pay after eight years, and by 2013 they were to be entitled to Rs 4600. However, the government altered the timeline in 2013, revising increments to 10, 16 and 26 years. Even under the revised policy, the constables should have received 4600 grade pay by 2017, but the Seventh Pay Commission introduced further changes. Under the new provisions, grade pay was linked to promotion, though later it was stipulated that in the absence of promotion, the next grade pay would still be payable. Between Rs 2400 and Rs 4600, two slabs were introduced, and the service period was extended to 10, 20 and 30 years.
By April 2021, the first batch of constables had completed 20 years of service, reigniting the demand for Rs 4600 grade pay. Since then, repeated protests have been staged, but the demand remains unresolved, prompting political parties and social organisations to rally behind the police personnel once again.
