COMs gives consent to regularisation of Encroachment policy, Part time workers inducted as dailywagers
Photo of cabinet 290725. Used for indicative purpose only
Shimla , July 7
Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of policy decisions with far-reaching implications for forest encroachers, part-time workers, government employees and families of deceased employees.
The Cabinet gave its approval to a new policy for the regularisation of eligible forest encroachments to a person not owning morw than 20 bigha landa in compliance with directions of the Supreme Court of India.
The decision follows the apex court’s stay on the order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s Division Bench, which had struck down any relaxation for regularising forest encroachments and restrained the state authorities from evicting encroachers or cutting fruit-bearing trees raised on such land. With the Supreme Court’s intervention, the state government has now framed a fresh policy to address pending cases of eligible encroachments.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved bringing part-time workers into the regular government workforce by placing them on the payroll as daily wage workers. The move is expected to benefit thousands of part-time employees who have been demanding better service conditions and a clear path towards regularisation.
The Cabinet also decided to provide relief to around 2,546 families of deceased government employees by reconsidering their pending applications for compassionate appointments. It approved relaxation in the existing eligibility criteria to facilitate government employment for eligible family members facing financial hardship after the death of the earning member.
The state government also approved significant benefits for government employees pursuing higher education abroad on study leave. Employees proceeding on study leave outside India will now receive their full salary during the entire period of sanctioned leave. Besides this, employees who had earlier been paid only 40 per cent of their salary during study leave will be refunded the remaining 60 per cent retrospectively, with the arrears to be released along with their current salary.
The Cabinet decisions are expected to have substantial administrative, financial and social implications, particularly for employees, bereaved families and beneficiaries of the new forest encroachment policy.
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