Finance minister promises to enact seventh pay commission

Mumbai: The state government has reassured its employees that seventh pay commission will be implemented retrospectively. In a written reply to question in Legislative Council, state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that state government is committed and the special fund will be allocated in the upcoming budget. 

MLC Kapil Patil has raised questions over the delay in implementation of seventh pay commission. “Though the state government has formed a committee under former secretary 

K.P. Bakshi, but it’s still only on paper. The state’s gazetted officers union has informed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis about the delay. So, when will the committee start the work,” said Mr Patil and other members of the Legislative Council. 

Mr Mungantiwar dismissed the claims and said, “KP Bakshi committee has already started work. All the suggestions must be submitted to this committee by March 15, 2018. The government will decide once the committee submits its report.” 

The finance minister also said that state government would have to spend Rs 21,530 crore on seventh pay commission as per primary estimation. “We will keep the special fund in this budget to give seventh pay commission to government employees. We are managing the fund for it,” said Mr Mungantiwar. 

In his reply, Mr Mungantiwar also said that the decision over retirement age of state government’s employees would be taken only after Khatua committee submit its report.