Govt urged to resolve compassionate appointment cases

Sopore, Nov 1: Scores of beneficiaries of the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS) 2022 have urged the government to resolve their compassionate appointment cases, which have been pending since the scheme was implemented by LG Manoj Sinha in September 2022.

The beneficiaries allege that while the government is making efforts to clear cases falling under SRO-43, it is simultaneously neglecting the cases under the Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (JKRAS). “The order clearly states that cases under JKRAS must be resolved quarterly,” due to which beneficiaries are questioning “why the government is not showing interest in addressing these cases as mandated in 2022.”

"We come from poor families and have become financially vulnerable since the deaths of our parents, who sacrificed their lives for the nation," said one beneficiary, Muizz Ahmad Shah. He urged the government, led by CM Omar Abdullah, to take a closer look at this matter.

Notably, on September 7, 2022, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led Union Territory government notified the JKRAS, 2022, for the dependent family members of its regular employees in place of the "Compassionate Appointment Rules."

According to the amended Clause 2 of the JKRAS Scheme, it applies to compassionate appointments or monetary compensation for family members of government employees who die in service or retire on invalid pension, provided the death occurs due to militancy or a law and order situation.