Srinagar, Aug 26: With state government Thursday deciding to deduct 1-day salary of employees without their consent for relief measures for flood hit Leh victims, the employees unions on Thursday voiced their concern saying government was under “obligation” to consult them prior to the decision making.
 An order issued by the Finance department today asked Council of Ministers to donate one month’s or one week’s salary and employees’ one day salary towards Chief Minister’s relief fund for rehabilitation and restoration works at Leh and other flood hit areas of the state.
 The Drawing and Disbursing Officers were directed to deduct one day’s salary of the employees from salaries for August which would be credited to account number CD-16 maintained in the JK Bank branch of Moving Secretariat.
 Accordingly the Treasury Officers were asked not to allow drawl of salary bills for August in respect of any DDO unless a certificate regarding deduction of one day’s salary of each employee billed for towards the Chief Ministers Relief Fund is recorded by the respective DDOs on the salary bills/cheques presented at the treasuries.
 However, the employees unions are furious over the government decision. “Government should have taken employees into confidence before taking the decision. It was obligatory on part of the government to talk to us,” said chairman Employees Joint Action Committee (K), Khursheed Alam.
 The employees unions, Alam said would definitely take up the matter with the government. “We have full sympathies with the people who have suffered due to floods in Leh and other areas. But there are employees working at lower rung who find it difficult even to mange the domestic expenses within their salary. Government should have thought about them,” he said.
 However, the orders mentioned that in case any employee does not opt for the contribution or objects to such deductions, the amount so deducted shall be refunded from the fund.
 “They can’t forcibly deduct the salary of an employee. The salary is our right and we have every right to decide what to do with it,” said Alam.
 Today’s order is in contravention to the earlier order issued by the General Administration Department on August 23 wherein government had made it mandatory to seek consent from the ministers and employees before deducting their salaries.
 “This is confusing. Why should authorities deduct the salary of employee when consent is mandatory,” said spokesman EJAC (Q), Farooq Trali.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST