Kerala government considers extending Pay Revision Commission’s term

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan told the Assembly that the government was considering extending the term of the current Pay Revision Commission to facilitate its work and enable it to collect information more effectively. Over the past 50 years, the previous LDF government was the only government to have failed to implement a pay revision within a five-year period, Satheesan said. The term of the preceding commission expired in July 2024, but the LDF government waited nearly two years before constituting a new commission in February, shortly before the announcement of the Assembly election. The commission’s terms of reference were finalised in March.

Responding to former Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal’s question about why the previous government’s order to grant leave surrender benefits had been kept in abeyance, Satheesan said the government and finance minister who had deferred leave surrender benefits for the longest period were now questioning the decision.

The previous government had left the current administration with outstanding liabilities of Rs 21,670 crore in dearness allowance (DA) arrears and Rs 14,387 crore in dearness relief (DR) arrears, the Chief Minister said.
Replying to M.S. Arun Kumar’s question on whether interim relief would be granted until the next pay revision, Satheesan said the government was examining the matter.