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Wednesday - June 18, 2025
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REGD.-HP-09-0015257
10:59 AM
Wednesday - June 18, 2025
Weather: 23°C
REGD.-HP-09-0015257
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High Court Pulls Up Govt: Firemen Deserve Pay Hike Like Cops, Rules Justice Sandeep Sharma
Shimla: In a ruling that could impact hundreds of firemen in Himachal Pradesh, the High Court directed the state government to reconsider the long-pending demand for pay revision of firemen, putting them on par with police constables.
Justice Sandeep Sharma, while allowing a petition filed by Jogi Ram Bhardwaj—currently serving as a fireman—criticised the government for denying revised pay scales to firemen despite a 2012 notification revising pay for several Class-III posts, including constables.
The court held that since both firemen and constables share the same basic educational qualification (10+2), and in fact firemen require additional specialised training, there was no logic in denying them the same financial benefits.
The judge made it clear that “there appears to be no reason to deny similar benefit of pay revision to the category of fireman, who discharge responsibilities comparable to those of constables.”
What’s the case?
The petitioner was initially appointed as a fireman on contract in 2012 and was regularised in 2020.
Since then, he’s been drawing a pay scale of Rs 5,910–20,200 with a grade pay of Rs 1,900.
But he claimed that he was entitled to the upgraded pay scale of Rs 10,300–34,800 with a grade pay of Rs 3,200—as per a government notification issued on September 27, 2012.
Interestingly, the Director General-cum-Director, Fire Services, in a letter dated September 5, 2022, had already recommended to the Principal Secretary (Home) that firemen be treated at par with constables in terms of pay structure.
The communication noted that not only do both posts share similar qualifications, but firemen also undergo two additional 60-day training modules, making their recruitment criteria tougher.
Despite this, no action had been taken by the government so far.
What the Court Said
Referring to several Supreme Court rulings, Justice Sharma stated that while courts generally do not interfere in pay scale matters—which fall under the executive domain—they must intervene when a decision appears "unjust, unreasonable, and prejudicial" to a group of employees.
He also cited a previous case (CWP No. 1007 of 2019—Bhagat Ram vs. State of HP) where the High Court had asked the government to consider the rising cost of living while deciding on pay revisions for similarly placed employees.
Justice Sharma observed that the firemen had clearly demonstrated functional parity with constables.
“Once pay revision is ordered taking note of various factors, especially rise in price index, the same factor would apply in the case of firemen,” he ruled.
Court’s Direction to Govt
The High Court has now directed the Principal Secretary (Home), Himachal Pradesh, to act on the 2022 recommendation of the Fire Services Director within three weeks and consider firemen for pay revision as per the 2012 notification.
If found eligible, firemen will be entitled to revised pay retrospectively from the applicable due date.
#EqualPay #HimachalHighCourt #FiremanDeserveParity
Chief’s Chintan: Former Army Chiefs Join Hands with COAS Gen Upendra Dwivedi to Shape the Future Force Post Operation SINDOOR
New Delhi, Manekshaw Centre – In a rare and significant gathering of military minds, the Indian Army hosted “Chief’s Chintan” — an interaction between the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, and former Chiefs of the Army Staff (CsOAS), aimed at harnessing decades of strategic wisdom to steer the force into the future.
Held in the aftermath of the recently conducted Operation SINDOOR, the session focused on drawing lessons from joint operations and their long-term strategic ramifications.
The event took place at the iconic Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, symbolising continuity and resolve in India’s military leadership.
The highlight of the interaction was a comprehensive briefing on Operation SINDOOR, an exercise that has been lauded for its demonstration of jointness, interoperability, and precision.
General Dwivedi underscored the importance of collective reflection and innovation in evolving the Indian Army into a more agile, tech-driven, and future-ready force.
Former Chiefs brought to the table a range of perspectives — from organisational reforms to technology absorption — resonating with national visions like #AtmaNirbharBharat and #ViksitBharat.
Their contributions are expected to feed directly into policy and planning as the Army navigates the #DecadeofTransformation.
This unique initiative, under the theme of #YearofTechAbsorption, reaffirms the Indian Army's commitment to staying at the forefront of modern warfare by combining operational experience with visionary leadership.
The event also marked a rare alignment of institutional memory with forward-looking strategy, bridging the past and present to forge a stronger, self-reliant, and tech-savvy Indian Army.
Later, Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi along with former Chiefs of Army Staff General VP Malik, General NC Vij, General JJ Singh, General Deepak Kapoor, General Bikram Singh and General Manoj Pande called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
#IndianArmy #COAS #OperationSINDOOR #DefenceLeadership
@DefenceMinIndia
@SpokespersonMoD
Contractors Threaten Gherao of Chief Secretary’s Office as Treasury Freeze Stalls Approved Payments
Call it ‘financial emergency’; allege illegal control over state funds by Finance Department
Mandi/Shimla, June 17:
Tempers are flaring in Himachal Pradesh as contractors across the state have threatened to gherao the Chief Secretary’s office, accusing the Finance Department of illegally freezing the Treasury and withholding approved payments.
They allege that despite budget allocations being cleared for the current financial year, the department is deliberately blocking funds — pushing contractors, suppliers, and development projects to the brink.
“The government’s own approved budget is lying locked in the treasury, but payments are being stalled without any official order.
This is nothing short of a financial emergency,” said Keshav Naik, president of the Contractor Welfare Association, Himachal Pradesh, warning of a statewide economic shutdown if payments aren’t released immediately.
According to Naik, Treasury Officers across districts have received verbal orders not to clear bills, despite departments submitting all required paperwork in time.
He said many contractors are now staring at loan defaults and NPA notices as payments for completed government projects remain stuck for months.
“The Finance Department is no longer a facilitator; it’s behaving like a controller. It has violated the sanctity of the Treasury and undermined the state legislature’s authority,” Naik alleged.
What’s Going Wrong:
Crores of rupees sanctioned in the 2024–25 budget are lying unspent due to an unofficial freeze.
Bills passed by various departments have not been cleared for payment.
Several ongoing and completed public projects are held up due to cash flow disruption.
Contractors, suppliers, and even departmental officers are facing financial uncertainty.
They say this violates the basic principles of fiscal discipline. Under normal circumstances, once the Assembly approves a budget, the Finance Department’s role is to ensure timely release — not to block it unilaterally.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the state’s financial health, with many asking:
Has Himachal Pradesh slipped into a silent financial crisis — one the government refuses to admit?
As the deadlock continues, trade associations, contractor unions, and suppliers are rallying for action.
If the Treasury blockade is not lifted within days, they plan to shut down economic activity across the state and lay siege to the top bureaucratic office.
#TreasuryFreeze #HimachalContractorsProtest #FinanceDepartmentRow
Shimla — In a judgment offering hope to senior citizens fighting for long-denied rights, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled in favour of an 83-year-old petitioner, allowing her claim for family pension that was pending since 1999.
The court quashed the impugned order dated August 17, 1999, and directed the concerned authorities to consider her application under Rule 50(10) of the Pension Rules, which entitles parents to family pension after the remarriage of a widow.
Despite a delay of over two decades, the High Court found merit in the petition, citing the principle of "continuing wrong" — an exception to the rule that normally rejects delayed service-related claims.
Justice Sandeep Sharma, who authored the judgment, observed that in pension-related matters, where no third-party rights are disturbed, relief may be granted even after a long delay.
The court, however, restricted the arrears of pension to three years preceding the filing of the writ petition, following well-established jurisprudence that allows recovery of dues only for a limited past period in cases of recurring wrongs.
In another connected ruling, the Court held that a termination, in essence a voluntary retirement under Rule 31 of the 1995 Pension Rules, also qualifies for pension benefits.
The appellant, in that case, has been given the option to refund the provident fund contributions with interest or get the amount adjusted against the pension arrears, which must be paid within a month.
Taking note of the petitioner’s advanced age and prolonged struggle for justice, the court instructed the respondents to expedite the decision-making process within six weeks, ensuring a fair hearing.
The authorities are also required to file compliance by July 22, 2025.
This judgment comes as a ray of hope for many senior citizens across the state still waiting for resolution of their long-pending pension disputes.
#SeniorCitizensJustice #PensionRights #HighCourtRelief
Shimla, June 17, 2025:
With water levels rising steadily in the Satluj River, SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) has begun releasing surplus water from the Nathpa Dam to manage the increasing inflow. This move comes as part of precautionary measures during the ongoing monsoon season.
Why the Warning?
The water level at Nathpa Dam is now close to its maximum limit — hovering around 1,493 meters.
To avoid any overflow or risk to the dam structure, engineers have opened gates to release excess water into the river.
SJVN’s Appeal to the Public
Stay away from the riverbanks. Sudden surges in water flow can be dangerous.
Maintain a safe distance. Especially in low-lying areas near the Satluj.
Don’t take chances. The flow of the river is unpredictable at the moment.
Nathpa-Jhakri is a major hydropower station on the Satluj River, generating 1,500 MW of electricity.
Every year, glacier melt and rains lead to increased water flow into the dam, making controlled releases necessary.
In the past, sudden water discharges from Himalayan dams have caused tragic accidents — so this time, the release is being handled with extra caution.
Official Word
“Due to rising inflows, extra water is being discharged from Nathpa Dam. We request all citizens to avoid going near the Satluj River and maintain proper distance for their safety.”
— Public advisory by SJVN, Nathpa-Jhakri Project
What You Should Do
Avoid walking, fishing, or grazing animals near the river.
Spread the message to people living or working along the Satluj.
Keep following alerts from local administration and SJVN’s official platforms.
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