SRINAGAR: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir 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 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 15 January 1996. The officials will receive the corresponding higher pay level specified in the annexure to Order No. 382-DSEK of 2026.
Among the officials named in the annexure are Fayaz Bhat, posted as a teacher at HSS Athoora in Baramulla; Ameena Bano, a teacher/master associated with Srinagar; Suwya Jabeen, Master at HSS Hawal in Srinagar; Shazia, Master and I/C Lecturer at MPMML HSS BDK in Srinagar; Arif Hussain Shah, I/C Lecturer at HSS Gulab Bagh, Srinagar; and Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh, Master in Srinagar. The annexure also includes officials from Pulwama and other entries, taking the total number of beneficiaries to 11.
The Directorate has made it clear that 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 Chief Education Officers and Drawing and Disbursing Officers have been directed to identify the available 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.
Before the benefit is implemented, the concerned Chief Education Officer or DDO has been directed to verify each official’s particulars against the original service records and assume personal responsibility for their correctness. If any discrepancy is found, the benefit is not to be released and the case must be referred to the Directorate for further orders or clarification.
The officials must have completed the prescribed qualifying service of nine, 18 or 27 years, as applicable, satisfactorily and without interruption in terms of Rule 4(k) of SRO-14 dated January 15, 1996.
The order further stipulates that the beneficiaries must 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 also have remained satisfactory.
The in-situ promotion will not alter the existing designation, seniority or duties of the officials. The benefit will also not be available to an official who has previously foregone a regular or functional promotion or subsequently chooses to forego a functional promotion.
The Directorate has additionally prescribed that the work and conduct of the officials must have remained satisfactory during the preceding three years.
The CEOs and DDOs have been instructed to ensure that the beneficiaries hold substantive and genuine appointments before endorsing and implementing the order. They have also been directed to verify that no in-situ promotion has already been granted to any of the officials at the CEO or DDO level.
The order specifically states that if any time-bound or in-situ promotion has been sanctioned in favour of an unregularised migrant substitute or contractual employee, it should not be given effect.
The DDOs have been authorised to draw arrears only after the relevant entries have been made in the service books and duly countersigned by the concerned CEO. Up-to-date verification is also required to be recorded in the service books before the benefit is implemented.
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 of each appointment must also be established.
Pay re-fixation arising from the in-situ promotion is required to be entered in the service book before implementation and countersigned by the concerned CEO.
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 30 March 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. Any discrepancy found during verification of the documents must be reported to the Directorate, and the time-bound promotion order in respect of such an official is not to be endorsed until fresh orders are issued.
