The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to withdraw the salary deferment order that was introduced earlier this year due to financial difficulties. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that all pending salary arrears will be released along with full salaries next month. The decision was taken after reviewing the state's financial situation, which the government says has improved significantly over the past few months.
The Chief Minister made the announcement during a meeting of the Finance Department in Dharamshala. He directed officials to immediately withdraw the notification that had delayed a portion of salaries for ministers, MLAs, senior officers, and government officials.
According to Sukhu, the state's financial position has become stronger because of better financial management, stricter control over government spending, and efforts to stop leakages and corruption. He said these measures have helped improve revenue collection and strengthen the economy of the state.
The Chief Minister stated that the government is working towards making Himachal Pradesh financially self-reliant. He added that the improvement in finances has made it possible to release the pending salary amounts and provide relief to employees and pensioners.
The salary deferment decision was originally announced during the state budget session in March. At that time, the government said it was facing serious financial challenges. One of the major reasons was the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) by the central government.
The loss of the grant resulted in an estimated annual financial burden of more than ₹8,000 crore on the state. This created additional pressure on Himachal Pradesh, which is already carrying a debt burden of over ₹1 lakh crore.
To manage the situation, the government decided to temporarily withhold a percentage of salaries from various categories of public representatives and senior officials.
Under the notification issued in April, 50 per cent of the Chief Minister's salary was deferred. Thirty per cent of the salaries of the Deputy Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker were also withheld temporarily. Other MLAs faced a deferment of 20 per cent of their salaries.
In addition, another notification ordered the deferment of 30 per cent of salaries of senior government officers. These included the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Director General of Police, Additional Director General of Police, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and other senior officials.
The government had described the move as a temporary measure aimed at managing financial pressures until the state's economic situation improved.
Now, with the withdrawal of the order, all withheld salary amounts will be paid to the concerned individuals next month. However, Chief Minister Sukhu announced that he would continue the deferment for his own salary. He said the decision reflects his commitment to leading by example during challenging times.
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Apart from withdrawing the salary deferment order, the Chief Minister also announced important relief measures for pensioners and government employees.
During the finance department review meeting, Sukhu directed officials to release the pending pension arrears of pensioners aged between 65 and 70 years. He said these arrears will also be paid next month.
The Chief Minister assured that the government would make all necessary funds available to ensure that pensioners receive their pending payments without further delay.
Many pensioners have been waiting for the release of these arrears, and the announcement has brought relief to thousands of retired government employees across the state.
Sukhu also reviewed the issue of pending dearness allowance and other employee-related dues. He acknowledged the contribution of government employees in the functioning and development of Himachal Pradesh.
According to the Chief Minister, government employees form the backbone of the state's administration and public service system. He said the welfare and financial security of employees remain a priority for his government.
The Chief Minister highlighted that his government had already restored the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a major demand of government employees. The restoration of OPS was aimed at providing long-term social and financial security to employees after retirement.
He said the government remains committed to protecting the interests of employees and pensioners despite financial challenges.
The announcement has been seen as a positive step for thousands of government workers and retired employees who were affected by the deferment measures introduced earlier this year.
Government officials believe that improved financial discipline and stronger revenue management have helped create room for these relief measures. The administration hopes that the release of arrears and salaries will boost confidence among employees and pensioners.
The Chief Minister also reiterated that the government will continue working on policies that strengthen the state's economy while ensuring that public welfare is not affected.
The decision to release salary arrears and pension dues comes at a time when many employees and pensioners were concerned about delayed payments. The government's move is expected to provide financial support to thousands of families across Himachal Pradesh.
With the withdrawal of the deferment notification, full salaries will be restored from next month, and all pending arrears will be cleared. Pensioners in the 65-70 age group will also receive their long-awaited arrears, marking a significant relief package for government workers and retirees in the state.
The Himachal Pradesh government says these steps reflect its confidence in the state's improving financial health and its commitment to supporting employees and pensioners while continuing efforts toward long-term economic stability.
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