Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has permitted interim promotions for thousands of district ministerial employees under existing service rules, citing delays in implementing the uniform pay structure model notified last year.
The General Administration & Public Grievance (GA&PG) department clarified on Saturday that departments yet to frame new cadre rules may continue promotions under the District Ministerial Cadre Rules, 2019, until revised rules are finalised and notified.
Despite clear directions issued in March 2024, most administrative departments have failed to restructure district ministerial cadres or notify revised cadre rules, leaving eligible employees deprived of pay and promotional benefits. The uniform pay structuring model, introduced through a GA department resolution on March 15, 2024, required departments to restructure cadres, seek concurrence from GA&PG and Finance and frame separate recruitment and cadre rules. Nearly 10 months later, the process remains incomplete, prompting petitions from disappointed employees.
Acting on the Orissa High Court’s directive, the state government has now allowed interim promotions under the 2019 rules. “In compliance with the High Court’s directions and to ensure implementation of the uniform pay structuring framework, the state government has allowed the interim promotions as per district rules. These promotions will be made as an interim measure, subject to recommendation of the DPC, till finalisation and notification of the revised cadre rules,” the GA department clarified.
The pending promotions will be granted as an interim measure, subject to Departmental Promotion Committee recommendations, until the revised cadre rules are finalised and notified.
