Kerala Government Announces Pay Hike for Public Servants and Representatives
Image credits: Express News Service
The Kerala government has announced a pay hike for various public servants and representatives, including government pleaders, Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman and members, and the special representative in Delhi. The monthly remuneration of government law officers in the High Court and the Kerala Administrative Tribunal has been revised, with the special government pleader’s pay increased from ₹1,20,000 to ₹1,50,000, the senior government pleader’s pay revised to ₹1,40,000 from ₹1,10,000, and the government pleader’s pay increased to ₹1,25,000 from ₹1,00,000. The pay hike was effected retrospectively from January 1, 2022.
The Cabinet has also approved a hefty pay hike for the chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission (PSC). The salary of the chairman will increase from Rs 2.26 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh, while members’ salaries will rise from Rs 2.23 lakh to Rs 3.25 lakh. The decision was made after reviewing the salary and benefits of commissions in other states. The PSC had previously recommended a salary revision, but the Cabinet had deferred the decision multiple times. The government has also proposed an increase in the annual travel allowance for its special representative in Delhi, KV Thomas, from ₹5 lakh to ₹11.31 lakh.
The opposition has criticized the decision, terming it an open challenge to the people. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan accused the government of ignoring the ongoing protest by ASHA workers in front of the secretariat, whose honorarium have been pending for three months. He also blamed the government’s splurge for the current crisis, accusing it of burdening common people with cess and rate hikes. The government has also defaulted on three months’ social security pensions for the elderly, widows, and differently-abled people.
The Kerala government has also made other significant decisions, including the appointment of former IAS officer Asha Thomas as chairperson of the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority (KRERA). Title deeds will be granted to 23 residents living on poramboke land in Kondotty, Malappuram, with the mineral rights of the property to be vested with the government. The finance department will take the final decision on the general administration department’s proposal to increase the travel allowance of KV Thomas.
The pay hike and other decisions made by the Kerala government are expected to have significant implications for the state’s finances and public servants. The government’s decision to increase the travel allowance of its special representative in Delhi is also expected to raise questions about the allocation of resources and priorities. As the state grapples with financial crisis, the government’s decisions will be closely watched by the opposition, public servants, and the general public.
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