Ladakh Admin Grants Notional Increments to SRO-202 Appointees to End Senior Junior Pay Anomaly | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Ladakh has ordered grant of notional annual increments for employees appointed under the Jammu Kashmir Special Recruitment Rules, 2015 (SRO-202), during their probation period, solely for the purpose of removal of senior–junior pay anomaly.

The order has been issued vide Order No. 98-LA(GAD) of 2026 dated 25/02/2026 by the General Administration Department, Ladakh in compliance with directions of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench order states that, the increments will be allowed on a notional basis only and no arrears or retrospective monetary benefits shall be paid. The benefit will be admissible prospectively from the date of issuance of the order and shall apply only to those employees whose probation period extended up to the cessation of special probationary provisions.

The Administration observed that employees appointed under SRO-202 were restricted to minimum pay without annual increments during probation, while those recruited after the formation of the UT of Ladakh are governed by Central Civil Services Rules and are drawing full pay along with increments. This had resulted in juniors drawing higher pay than seniors appointed earlier under SRO-202 despite performing identical duties in the same cadre.

The matter had reached the Central Administrative Tribunal through Original Application No. 509 of 2024 (Stanzin Namgail and Ors. vs. UT Ladakh and Ors.), wherein Panchayat Accounts Assistants sought parity in service and monetary benefits. The CAT, in its order dated 27.12.2024, directed the Administration to extend parity and clarify the governing service rules.

According to the order, service conditions of Panchayat Accounts Assistants during probation shall remain governed by SRO-202 as amended by S.O. 194 dated 17.06.2020. However, after cessation of special probationary provisions, their service conditions shall be regulated under the Central Civil Services Rules, 1965.

The Administration stated that the decision shall be treated as compliance with the CAT directions and will apply mutatis mutandis to similarly situated employees in the Union Territory of Ladakh. (KNC)