By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 16 Aug: The last meeting of the Cabinet Sub Committee constituted to recommend a suitable decision on grade pay for police officials was held today.
While Cabinet Minister and Government Spokesman Subodh Uniyal refused to comment on the recommendation of by the sub-committee, the indications are mixed. Uniyal stated that, based on the facts placed before the sub-committee, it would submit its report before the Cabinet for a final decision.
It may be noted that, earlier, as per the provisions of the Sixth Pay Commission, the grade pray upgradation to Rs 4,600 has been downgraded to Rs 2,800. Also, the time scale promotion as per the sixth pay commission was 10, 16 and 26 years, while it has now become 10, 20 and 30 years as per the provisions of the Seventh Pay Commission. The Police personnel have been demanding grade pay revision to Rs 4,600 as was applicable earlier under the Sixth Pay Commission rather than the revision to Rs 2,800 as under the Seventh Pay Commission. Police personnel in Uttarakhand are currently angry over the issue of grade pay. The protest of the police personnel is on the fact that, now, in case of non-promotion to the next post, they will not get the grade pay of the next post. The next grade pay in the slab of their current pay scale is very little.
Sources claim that it has been recommended to give grade pay to the police personnel as was the case in the past. However, this decision could lead to an agitation by some other personnel as they would also demand the similar benefit, resulting in heavy financial burden for the government. Sub-committee chairman Subodh Uniyal said that the meetings regarding grade pay had been completed. Now, along with preparing the minutes of these meetings, the sub-committee will place the report before the Cabinet.
