On analogy of IAS officers, JKAS be given OPS status

Justice is needed!

• Q The government of India has provided an opportunity to its employees (AIS) to opt for the old pension scheme, whereas JKAS employees to deserve same treatment in J&K.

jj correspondent

Jammu, Jul 13: The decision of government of India and government of Jammu & Kashmir have abolished the old pension scheme and opted for new pension scheme but there are some cases which are in between two. Whereas, the government of India has given option to those who are within the framework of old pension scheme but why J&K government is shying.
The employees of central government, who joined the central government services for posts advertised or notified before to December 22, 2003, the day the National Pension System (NPS) was notified, are eligible to go for the old pension scheme under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), as per the Office Memo issued on Friday by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances. The order said that the option may be exercised by the relevant government employees before August 31, 2023. As per the report, the move was made in response to various representations/references and court decisions in this regard.
It is pertinent to mention that the Govt of India notified the National Pension Scheme on Dec 23, 2003, and it was implemented from 01.01.2004 thus enforcing the NPS to all those employees who joined the government service after 01.01.2004. Whereas, the government employees selected against the posts notified and advertised before the cut-off date of NPS i.e. Dec 23, 2003, and who were undergoing the selection process meant for recruitment and joining, besides filling of formalities for appointment and joined after 01.01.2004 were covered under New Pension Scheme.
The employees were having the plea that those selected employees before the government was that the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) be extended on the ground that their appointment was made against the posts/vacancies advertised/notified for recruitment prior to notification for National Pension System, citing court judgements of various High Courts and Central Administrative Tribunals.”
Those government employees who are eligible to exercise their option under new opportunity but to exercise this option by the stipulated date will continue to be covered by the National Pension System, according to the amendment. The order stated that once the option is exercised, it is final.
It is clarified that the issue of coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), based on the government servant’s option, shall be brought before the appointing authority. Whereas, if a government employee meets the requirements for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), the necessary order must be issued by October 31, 2023, according to the rules.
Whereas, in the case of JKAS of J&K UT, a senior officer on condition of anonymity, told that the J&K government must follow the decision of government of India and on similar principle and analogy, a large number of state government employees in erstwhile Jammu Kashmir have been deprived of the benefit of Old Pension Scheme after the implementation of the New Pension Scheme on 01.01.2010.
It is being further clarified that more than 1000 J&K government employees from different streams were selected against the various sanctioned posts notified and advertised before the cut date Dec 2009 being deprived off the benefits of the then prevalent Old Pension Scheme for no fault of theirs.
If one go deep in the process of recruitment, a long process from notifications, advertisements, entrance examinations, announcements, filling of formalities, police and CID verification, medical etc. used to be a nightmare for the youth aspiring for jobs. Even in JKAS batch,
Moreover, the Central Government vide its S.O. 643 dated 01.10.2022, has already amended the J&K Civil Services Rules 1956 and Pension & Gratuity Rules 1964 to bring these at par with the Central Civil Services and Pension Rules. And moreover, all the officers and employees in Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh no longer bear the batch of erstwhile J&K State and are now at par with the Central Government employees.