Jammu Kashmir Govt Owes Rs 4,468 Cr in Unpaid Retirement Dues to Employees

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has acknowledged that liabilities worth Rs 4,468 crore are pending on account of retirement benefits due to former employees of the Union Territory, including their gratuity, General Provident Fund (GPF), commutation, and leave salary.

Responding to a question by legislator Tariq Hameed Karra in the Assembly, the Finance Department said that as of October 22, 2025, unpaid liabilities include Rs 2,390 crore under GPF, Rs 1,537 crore as gratuity, Rs 332 crore as commutation, and Rs 209 crore as leave salary.

The government stated that these payments are being released in a “structured manner” depending upon the availability of financial resources. However, it said that mechanisms are in place to ensure that critical cases are prioritised.

“To address urgent cases like health issues, marriage, tuition fees of children, and pilgrimage, two senior officers — one each at Srinagar and Jammu — have been designated to recommend such cases for clearance on priority,” the Finance Department said.

The disclosure underscores the mounting fiscal pressure on the Union Territory’s finances, where pension and retirement benefits have become a significant expenditure head. While the administration has in recent years streamlined the pension disbursement system through digitisation and direct benefit transfers, the persistent backlog in liability payments continues to affect thousands of retired employees awaiting their dues.