Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has sanctioned in-situ promotion to the higher standard pay scale for 11 teaching officials of Kashmir Division, subject to verification of their service records and fulfilment of all prescribed eligibility conditions.
The benefit has been granted under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Higher Standard Pay Scale Scheme) Rules, 1996, issued vide SRO-14 dated January 15, 1996. The officials will be entitled to the corresponding higher pay level specified in the annexure to Order No. 382-DSEK of 2026.
Among those listed in the annexure are Fayaz Bhat, Teacher at HSS Athoora, Baramulla; Ameena Bano, Teacher/Master associated with Srinagar; Suwya Jabeen, Master at HSS Hawal, Srinagar; Shazia, Master and I/C Lecturer at MPMML HSS BDK, Srinagar; Arif Hussain Shah, I/C Lecturer at HSS Gulab Bagh, Srinagar; and Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh, Master in Srinagar. The list also includes officials from Pulwama and other areas, taking the total number of beneficiaries to 11.
The Directorate has directed the concerned Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) to verify the particulars of each beneficiary against original service records and assume personal responsibility for their correctness.
The officials must have completed the prescribed qualifying service of nine, 18 or 27 years, as applicable, satisfactorily and without interruption in accordance with Rule 4(k) of SRO-14.
The beneficiaries must also not be under suspension or facing contemplated or instituted charges or charge-sheets under the Jammu and Kashmir Classification, Control and Appeal Rules, 1956, or any other applicable rules. Their work and conduct must have remained satisfactory, including during the preceding three years.
The order further requires verification that no criminal case or proceeding is pending against any beneficiary before an investigating agency, including the Vigilance Organisation Kashmir or Crime Branch, or before a court of law.
The genuineness and substantive status of each appointment must also be established before the benefit is implemented.
The monetary benefit arising from the in-situ promotion will be regulated under Rules 289 to 296 of the General Financial Rules, 2017.
The arrears arising from the promotion will not be drawn until additional funds specifically meant for the purpose are released by the competent authority, except in the case of retired officials.
The concerned CEOs and DDOs have been directed to identify the available budgetary provision and submit consolidated requisitions to the Directorate under the adopted Budget 2026-27.
The order warns that any deviation from the prescribed procedure will invite strict disciplinary action against the concerned DDO.
The in-situ promotion will not result in any change in the existing designation, seniority or duties of the officials.
The benefit will also not be admissible to an official who has previously foregone a regular or functional promotion or subsequently chooses to forego a functional promotion.
The CEOs and DDOs have additionally been instructed to verify that no in-situ promotion has already been granted to any of the beneficiaries at their respective levels.
The DDOs have been authorised to draw arrears only after the necessary entries have been made in the service books and duly countersigned by the concerned CEO.
Up-to-date verification must also be recorded in the service books before implementation. Any pay re-fixation arising from the in-situ promotion is required to be entered in the service book and countersigned by the concerned CEO.
The order specifically directs that if any time-bound or in-situ promotion has been sanctioned in favour of an unregularised migrant substitute or contractual employee, the same should not be given effect.
For officials who were confirmed in the Masters grade under DSEK Order No. 2468-DSEK of 2013 dated December 31, 2013, the benefit is subject to re-fixation of pay as Master with effect from March 30, 2013, the date of their notional confirmation.
The Directorate has directed all Chief Education Officers to independently verify the eligibility and entitlement of every official listed in the annexure before endorsing the order to the concerned DDO.
In case any discrepancy is detected during verification, the matter must be reported to the Directorate and the concerned time-bound promotion order must not be endorsed until fresh orders or clarification are issued.
The directions are intended to ensure that the higher standard pay scale benefit is extended only to officials who meet the prescribed service, appointment, conduct and eligibility requirements.
