The state government employees and pensioners are unlikely to get their full salaries at least till September, if the ordinance issued by the TRS government led by chief minister KCR on Tuesday night is any indication.
It may be recalled that the chief minister announced salary cuts ranging from 10 per cent to 75 per cent for all the government employees, all India service officials and elected public representatives with effect from March in view of the financial crisis arising out of lockdown imposed to contain Coronavirus spread.
However, it has only been an administrative order and there is no legal sanctity for this decision. For the first two months, nobody raised any objection as the employees understood the government’s compulsions.
But when the lockdown was lifted and the government started getting huge revenues, the employees and pensioners expected that they would get their full salaries from the third month.
In fact, neighbouring Andhra Pradesh government led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy restored the full salaries from May.
This has forced a section of employees and pensioners moving the high court against KCR government’s decision to impose salary cuts for the third month as well.
As a result, the high court questioned the state government as to why it had cut the salaries of the employees and under which rule.
Having no other option, the KCR government on Tuesday night promulgated the Telangana Disaster and Public Health Emergency (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2020 to make special provisions for the deferment of payment of salaries, pensions and other dues in the event of disaster and public health emergency in the State.
The ordinance empowers the government to defer payment of monthly pay, pension or remuneration to the employee, pensioner or other persons to the extent not exceeding half (50 per cent) the total monthly payment during crisis period.
The rules will be applicable to any institution owned or controlled or aided by the State government including schools and college teachers, local self-government institutions, statutory bodies, universities, corporations, aided educational institutions and other such organisations.
Further, the ordinance mandates the government to pay the deferred amount within six months from the date of deferment. However, the State government may make amendments.
It clearly shows that the salary deferments would continue for six months. If March is taken as the starting month, the government has the power to defer salaries till September.
Since the government has the powers to amend the rules, the salary cuts might even be extended for a further period.
