27-year wait ends as retired cameramen get pay relief in an hour

A pay grievance that lingered for nearly three decades was resolved in less than an hour on December 24, bringing long-awaited relief to two retired government cameramen and underscoring how entrenched administrative delays can abruptly give way to swift action.

Devendra Sharma and MK Mahadev Rao, both retired cameramen from the public broadcasting system Doordarshan, finally saw closure to a pay fixation dispute dating back to 1997 after meeting Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Despite multiple representations over the years, the issue had remained mired in bureaucratic procedures until direct ministerial intervention cut through the impasse.

Officials said the grievance stemmed from the incorrect implementation of Rule 8 of the Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1997. Under the provision, the two employees were entitled to an additional increment during the pay revision period, an omission that had a cascading effect on their salaries and subsequent pension calculations.

During the December 24 meeting, the minister instructed ministry officials to examine the matter immediately and resolve it within an hour. Acting on the directive, the department issued corrected pay fixation orders the same day, ending a dispute that had spanned almost 30 years.

The revised orders provide for corrected pension benefits along with arrears covering nearly two decades, offering significant financial relief to the two retirees, both now senior citizens. Officials confirmed that the revisions are in line with applicable pay commission norms and service rules that should have been implemented at the time.

For Sharma and Mahadev Rao, the decision brought closure after years of persistent follow-ups across departments. “After decades of representations, this is the first time our grievance was heard and resolved decisively,” one of them said.

The case highlights the human cost of prolonged administrative delays, particularly for retired government employees dependent on timely pension disbursements. While the swift resolution has been widely welcomed, it also raises questions about how a rule-based matter remained unresolved for so long.

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