Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 11: Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation (JKMEF), Jammu province, has demanded the immediate restoration and release of two and a half days’ salary along with allowances in favour of eligible non-gazetted employees of the Health and Medical Education Department.
Addressing a press conference here today, JKMEF Jammu province president Jaswinder Singh said that non-gazetted employees form the backbone of the public healthcare system and perform round-the-clock roster duties, including Sundays and gazetted holidays, to ensure uninterrupted patient care across hospitals and health institutions in the Union Territory. It alleged that the denial of legitimate financial benefits has led to widespread resentment and demoralization among staff.
Singh pointed out that health institutions are already grappling with an acute shortage of manpower due to a large number of vacant posts. In such circumstances, the stoppage of two and a half days’ salary has created administrative confusion and operational difficulties, adversely affecting the smooth functioning of hospitals.
Referring to Government Order Number 807-HME of 2015 dated December 18, 2015, read with SRO-91 of 1982, chairman Sushil Sudan said several categories, including Laboratory Assistant Technicians, Class-IV staff, Drivers, Orderlies, Safaiwalas, Gatekeepers and Chowkidars (MTS), were declared ministerial staff. He further cited SRO-20 of 1992 and SO 334 of July 2022, maintaining that only limited categories fall under ministerial staff and other essential employees are not excluded from roster-duty benefits.
He also referred to a clarification issued by the Director, Health Services, Jammu, in 2019 supporting the grant of two and a half days’ pay to employees performing roster duties.
Working president, Bhadur warned that if Government Order Number HME-Acctt/236/2022-02 dated January 20, 2026 is not revoked, employees across Jammu Province will wear black badges till February 19 as a mark of protest and observe a two-hour work suspension on February 20, excluding emergency services. He urged the authorities to take an early and sympathetic decision to prevent disruption of healthcare services.
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