The Himachal Pradesh government has suspended its controversial notification that would have withdrawn higher pay grades from 89 categories of employees, following widespread protests from employee unions. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured employee representatives that existing staff will continue receiving their current salary benefits.
Just two days after the state finance department issued the notification on September 6 withdrawing Rule 7(A) of the Himachal Pradesh Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules 2022, the government reversed course following intense opposition from employee organizations.
CM’s assurance to employee unions
During meetings at Peterhof on Monday, the Chief Minister assured employee union leaders that no salary cuts would be implemented for existing staff. “The notification was issued incorrectly, and the government has decided to amend it. The benefits that have been given to employees will not be taken back,” Sukhu stated.
The CM clarified that employees in 89 categories who currently receive higher pay grades will continue to get them as before. However, the enhanced pay structure will not apply to future recruitments – new employees hired going forward will not receive the additional increments.
“Ensuring employee welfare is the state government’s priority, therefore issuing such orders is not justified. Human concerns should be kept in mind while amending rules and regulations. The state government will protect employee interests in the future as well,” the Chief Minister emphasized.
Background of the controversy
The original September 6 notification had effectively removed Rule 7(A) from January 3, 2022, which provided higher pay scales to employees completing two years of regular tenure. This decision would have caused direct monthly financial losses of ₹15,000-20,000 to thousands of employees across 89 different categories.
The affected categories include clerks, junior office assistants, technicians, drivers, teachers (JBT, PGT), stenographers, nurses, pharmacists, forest guards, excise inspectors, and various other government positions.
Employee unions mobilize opposition
Employee organizations had strongly condemned the original decision, calling it anti-employee and unjust. The Non-Gazetted Employees Federation, Secretariat Employees Federation, and CITU state committee had all expressed strong opposition to the notification.
Union leaders Pradeep Thakur and Trilok Thakur, among others, met with the Chief Minister to discuss the financial impact on employees. “Every employee was facing a loss of ₹13,000-14,000. Chief Minister Sukhu is employee-friendly and had implemented OPS (Old Pension Scheme) immediately after coming to power,” said Pradeep Thakur.
The unions had also demanded an immediate Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting to address employee concerns and had threatened to launch agitations if the government did not provide positive assurances.
Government’s clarification
Following the employee meetings, the government issued a revised notification in the evening suspending the controversial order. The Chief Minister confirmed that the finance department had been directed to make necessary amendments to protect existing employee interests.
The decision represents a significant policy reversal, demonstrating the government’s responsiveness to employee concerns while attempting to balance fiscal considerations by applying restrictions only to future recruitments. This approach allows the state to maintain current employee satisfaction while potentially controlling future salary expenditures.
