Khwaja Farooq Renzushah, former president of the Kashmir Administrative Officers Association, fully supports the legitimate demands of Jammu and Kashmir employees.
Srinagar, January 20, 2026(PTK): – Dr. Khwaja Farooq Renzushah, Chairman of the Kashmir Society International and a longstanding leader within the Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) Officers Association, successfully spearheaded the joint movement for both gazetted and non-gazetted employees when simultaneous 6th pay Commission was achieved for state employees . This initiative, which included notable figures like jenab Kifayat Razvi, jenab Farooq Shah, Sonam wangchuk kas officer from Ladakh , top jammu based kas officers and distinguished employees such as jenab . Abdul Qayym Wani, jenab khurshid Aalam and jenab Nazir Ahmad, resulted in the successful implementation of the 6th Pay Commission, aligning local KAS officers’ benefits with those of central service employees. Moreover, it led to the establishment of one hundred special secretary positions for KAS officers and the allocation of eighty percent of deputy commissioner roles for them.
However, it has become increasingly evident that the current government lacks the urgency required to address the issues facing local Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (JKUT) employees. During previous governance, any increments in dearness allowance or salary, as well as benefits related to the General Provident Fund (GPF) and pensions, were automatically extended to JKUT employees in tandem with central government employees. Sadly, all serving & retired jkut employees face prolonged delays in the release of rightful essential benefits.
It is inequitable that employees performing identical duties under such challenging conditions are subjected to disparities in salaries, grades, dearness allowances, and the implementation of pay commissions. With central government employees likely to benefit from the 8th Pay Commission, it is imperative that these advancements are equally applied to our local workforce, given our status as a Union Territory of India.
The dedication exhibited by local officers and employees since 1987 has been remarkable. Tragically, many have lost their lives while bravely fulfilling their duties. It is disheartening that the government has been slow to alleviate their difficulties and genuinely address their rightful demands. Retired employees face significant delays in receiving their leave salaries and gratuities, with treasury officials citing a lack of available funds for over a year, even for their own deposited GPF.
Furthermore, there are no health-oriented facilities for retired employees or special care provisions, which are standard in other civilized societies. Promises made decades ago regarding free transportation on government buses remain unfulfilled. Additionally, the admission quotas in schools and professional colleges, which should be accessible to JKUT employees performing their duties here, are not being honored, favoring others instead.
The deplorable conditions faced by JKUT employees must be prioritized. These local employees are the backbone of an efficient administration that has garnered widespread praise since the establishment of Kashmir Administrative Services and local employee services following India’s independence.(PTK)
