Accounts Union delegation meets Speaker LA

Srinagar, Feb 20: A delegation of the Accounts Union, Srinagar unit, led by Ghulam Mohammad Wani, Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO), Audit and Inspections, met the Speaker of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly at his official residence today. The delegation, comprising several Assistant Accounts Officers (AAOs), raised the long-pending issue of their placement as Accounts Officers (AOs), a matter that has remained unresolved for years.
During the meeting, the delegation highlighted the severe stagnation within the Jammu and Kashmir Accounts Service (Departmental), where officers have been awaiting elevation for over 12 years. The delegation pointed out that due to bureaucratic delays in completing necessary formalities, many officers eligible for promotion retire before receiving their due elevation, depriving them of their rightful career progression. They further underscored that the shortage of Accounts Officers has forced several existing officers to handle multiple charges, leading to inefficiencies in administrative functioning.
Crucially, the delegation stressed that granting the AAOs their due promotions would not place any additional financial burden on the government. Many of these officers have already reached higher pay scales under non-functional pay levels. They clarified that their demand was not for any undue relaxation but rather for rightful placement under existing departmental norms. They cited precedents from other departments, both in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and the current Union Territory, where such promotions had been implemented as per standing regulations and Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) norms.
The Speaker gave a patient hearing to the delegation, acknowledging their concerns and recognizing the legitimacy of their demands. He assured them that he would personally take up the matter with the Hon’ble Chief Minister to ensure an expeditious resolution. Expressing their gratitude, the delegation thanked the Speaker for his support and left the meeting optimistic about a positive outcome. The AAOs hope that their long-overdue promotions will soon materialise, addressing both their career progression concerns and the administrative challenges caused by the current shortage of Accounts Officers.