Srinagar, Apr 22: The pensioners (retired between 1-1-06 to 30-6-2009) today alleged that the authorities were delaying the payment of the sixth pay commission arrears to them, notwithstanding government orders for release.
 The pensioners said government had issued order no. 08/F of 2011 dated 18-01-2011 providing for release of 50 per cent of arrears on account of residual gratuity and commutation in their favour. They said as per the government order the arrears were payable from April 2011 to the pensioners retired between 01-01-06 to 30-06-2009.
 The pensioners said the Accounts and Treasuries (Finance Department) instead of releasing the payment to them has sought some clarifications from the AG’s office “only to delay the payment.”
 The pensioners said if the department required any clarification at all, it should have sought it in January, when the government had issued the order.
 The pensioners said the department slept over the matter for about four months and “when time came for release of payment, it has sought the clarification.”
 Pertinently, the department vide letter no. JDATK/Adm/247-72 dated 09-04-2011 to the Principal Accountant General, J&K, Srinagar, has sought clarifications on the revised gratuity and commutation payment of pensioners.
 Raising three queries, the letter reads: “It may be clarified whether the treasury officers are required to make 50 per cent payment on the basis of the authorities already issued by your office or shall they return the authorities to your office for revalidation.”
 “As per the government order only 50 per cent payment is to be made while as the authorities issued by your office are for 100 per cent. It may be clarified whether the treasury officers are required to make the payments on the same authorities or they shall return the authorities to your office for revision as per the government order.”
 “The commutation authorities have been issued by your office on the basis of revised commutation. Now that when only 50 per cent payment is to be made on this account, this needs clarification whether the commutation value is to be deducted @ 50 per cent (which is actual payment to be made) or 100 per cent. In this regard also the commutation authorities may require revision at your level.” 
 When contacted Joint Director A&T Altaf Hassan Mirza confirmed that the department had sought some clarifications from the AG’s Office. However, he assured that it would only take a couple of days before the payment to the pensioners was released.
 “We have sought clarification because the ‘authorities’ issued by the AG Office remain valid for only six months. This is a technical matter but it will not take more than a couple of days to get clarified.”
 He said, “Meanwhile we have collected the figures from the treasuries and we have projected the liability to the government. Hopefully, the payments will be released in the next week,” he assured.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST