Jammu, Mar 14 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Friday approved a series of key proposals including an 18 percent increase in passenger transport fares, revision of allowances for Ministers, MLAs and other legislators, and creation of new faculty posts in Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) of Jammu and Srinagar.
Sources told news agency JKNS that the Cabinet gave its nod to an 18 percent hike in fares of commercial passenger vehicles across the Union Territory.
Transporters had reportedly demanded a 35–40 percent increase, but the government settled for a lower hike. The Cabinet also fixed fares for electric vehicles, setting the rate for e-rickshaws at Rs 15 per kilometre and for e-autos at Rs 25 for the first kilometre and Rs 20 for each subsequent kilometre to bring uniformity in charges.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of 136 faculty posts in the Health and Medical Education Department for the Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar. Of the total posts, 27 are for Professors and 109 for Associate Professors. According to the proposal, 10 Professor posts and 36 Associate Professor posts will be created in GMC Jammu, while 17 Professor posts and 73 Associate Professor posts will go to GMC Srinagar.
The distribution of posts has raised concerns among sections in Jammu, with some questioning the higher allocation to GMC Srinagar compared to GMC Jammu.
Another major decision included revision of various allowances and benefits for legislators and ministers. The Cabinet cleared amendments in rules governing travelling allowances, medical facilities and other benefits for Ministers, MLAs, Presiding Officers of the Legislature and the Leader of Opposition. The changes will lead to an increase in medical allowances, daily allowances, motor car advance and other facilities.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved the proposal to allow the Union Territory of Ladakh to utilise the services of the Jammu and Kashmir Real Estate Appellate Tribunal as a joint tribunal for resolving real estate related appeals, as real estate activity in Ladakh remains limited.
The Cabinet also approved promotion of Joint Director Fisheries Abdul Majid Tak as Director Fisheries and granted Special Scale (Non-Functional) of JKAS in favour of officer Rajesh Kumar Basotra.
Officials said the decisions taken in the Cabinet meeting are subject to approval of the Lieutenant Governor. (JKNS)
