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Uttarakhand Approves Equal Pay Policy & Land Dispute Drive in Key Reforms

The Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved a phased implementation of "equal pay for equal work" for personnel sponsored by the Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited, starting with those having ten years of continuous service. This decision follows a Ministerial Sub-Committee's recommendations and a 2018 High Court order. Separately, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed a one-month intensive campaign to resolve all pending land disputes across the state, linking them to law and order and public trust. He has instructed top officials to lead the drive with weekly reviews to ensure timely and transparent resolutions.

Key Points: Uttarakhand Cabinet Approves Equal Pay & Land Dispute Resolution

  • Phased equal pay for UPNL staff
  • Benefits for 10+ years service
  • High Court order compliance
  • One-month land dispute resolution drive
  • Weekly progress reviews
2 min read

Uttarakhand Cabinet approves phased 'equal pay for equal work' benefits for UPNL personnel

Uttarakhand Cabinet approves phased equal pay for UPNL personnel and CM Dhami orders one-month drive to resolve land disputes statewide.

"Land disputes are directly linked to the problems of ordinary citizens... it is the government's priority to ensure their speedy, transparent, and fair resolution. - Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami"

Dehradun, January 15

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to extend the benefits of "equal pay for equal work" in a phased manner to personnel sponsored through the Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited.

The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In the first phase, UPNL personnel who have completed 10 years of continuous service will be granted salary-related benefits.

The Cabinet considered the recommendations of the Ministerial Sub-Committee in its meeting held on December 8, 2025. The committee was constituted in compliance with the order passed by the Uttarakhand High Court on November 12, 2018, in Public Interest Litigation.

In view of the State's financial condition, the Cabinet decided to implement the policy in a phased manner. Accordingly, salary-related benefits will initially be extended to UPNL-sponsored personnel who have completed a decade of continuous service.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also issued strict directives to ensure the swift and effective resolution of land-related disputes across the state. He instructed Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan and Director General of Police Deepam Seth to launch a comprehensive and intensive drive in all districts to resolve pending land dispute cases within one month.

The Chief Minister said, "Land disputes are directly linked to the problems of ordinary citizens and often have an adverse impact on law and order as well as social harmony; therefore, it is the government's priority to ensure their speedy, transparent, and fair resolution."

He directed officials to pay special attention to sensitive cases during the campaign and warned that any negligence would not be tolerated.

As per the Chief Minister's directions, the Chief Secretary will review the campaign's progress weekly to ensure targets are met within the stipulated timeframe. Corrective measures will be implemented as needed, according to an official release.

Dhami expressed confidence that the special campaign would ensure speedy resolution of land disputes, provide relief to the general public and further strengthen public trust in the government and administration.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good decision, but why only for those with 10+ years? What about the junior staff struggling right now? The principle is 'equal pay for equal work', not 'equal pay after a decade of unequal pay'. The implementation logic seems flawed.
S
Suresh O
Finally some justice for these personnel. The High Court order was from 2018! It took 7 years and a PIL to get this moving. Shows how slow our system can be. At least it's happening now. Bhagwan unka bhala kare.
A
Andrew M
Interesting to see the focus on land disputes as well. Both issues—fair wages and land rights—are crucial for stability and trust. If the CM can deliver on the one-month timeline for disputes, that would be a massive achievement for Uttarakhand.
M
Meera T
As someone from the hills, I know how important UPNL jobs are for local youth. This will boost morale and provide much-needed financial security to many families. The land dispute drive is also badly needed—too many properties stuck in legal limbo.
K
Karthik V
Hope this isn't just an announcement before elections. We need to see actual money in the hands of workers. The weekly review by the Chief Secretary is a good accountability measure. Let's hope for transparent execution.

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