Cops to get benefits of hiked pay and grade pay in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: Under pressure from a section of police personnel protesting for removal of pay anomalies in the force, the state government has decided to grant benefits of hiked pay and grade pay to different categories of employees of the department with retrospective effect from December 12, 2011.

As per the government order (GO) issued yesterday, Police personnel in the specified categories will also get benefits of hiked pay and grade pay on a notional basis (without payment of arrears) since January 1, 2006.

However, Chief Minister Harish Rawat attributed the anomalies in pay to non-implementation of a government decision taken in this regard in 2011 on an immediate basis.

"When our attention was drawn to the matter we acted swiftly to resolve the problem," an official release quoting the Chief Minister said.

He said the state government was sensitive to the problems of all its employees and the decision has been taken in the interest of the police force despite the fact that it will cause an additional burden of Rs 50-60 crore to the state exchequer.

The order applies to various categories of police personnel, including scientists working in the department, Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ministerial), head constables (armed police/civil police/Motor Transport/Provincial Armed Constabulary), constables (Civil Police/ Armed Police/Drivers/Provincial Armed Constabulary, Assistant Drivers, Workshop Assistants, Firemen, Leading Firemen and Fire service drivers), the release said.