Death-cum-retirement gratuity of J&K Govt employees enhanced by 25% from Jan 1, 2024

Jammu, Feb 18: J&K Government has announced that the maximum limit of death-cum-retirement gratuity to its employees will be deemed to have been enhanced by 25 percent from existing ceiling, i.e., from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, with effect from January 1, 2024, the date on which Dearness Allowance (DA) reached 50 percent of the basic pay.

Principal Secretary Finance, J&K, Santosh D Vaidya notified it after references were received in the Finance department seeking clarification regarding enhancement of the maximum limit of death-cum-retirement gratuity, consequent upon the Dearness Allowance reaching 50 percent, with effect from January 1, 2024.

Vaidya, in this connection, sought attention towards Note 8 below Article 240-BB of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations, Volume I, added vide SRO-194 dated 24.04.2018, which provides that the ceiling on death-cum-retirement gratuity will increase by 25 percent whenever the Dearness Allowance rises by 50 percent of the basic pay.

“It was ordered vide Government Order No 178-F of 2024 dated May 21, 2024, that the government employees working in the regular pay levels under 7th Pay Commission recommendations would be paid Dearness Allowance at the revised rate of 50 percent of basic pay with effect from January 1, 2024,” he stated.

“After the receipt of references in the Finance Department seeking clarification regarding it, the matter has been examined and it is hereby clarified that, subject to other conditions prescribed under the rules governing grant of death-cum-retirement gratuity, the maximum limit of death-cum-retirement gratuity shall be deemed to have been enhanced by 25 percent from existing ceiling, i.e., from Rs 20 lakh only to Rs 25 lakh only, with effect from January 1, 2024, the date on which Dearness Allowance reached 50 percent of the basic pay,” Vaidya notified.