Siddique panel to table report on January 7

According to sources in the Secretariat, Siddique, Secretary (Expenditure), Department of Finance, will submit his report to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and only after receiving his report action will be taken on the ongoing dharna of the secondary grade teachers in the state.

After several associations of the state government employees complained of anomalies in the Seventh Pay Commission, the state government appointed one-man committee, headed by Siddique, in February, this year.

The committee obtained complaints from representatives of seven recognised associations and more than 100 unrecognised associations. Though initially the deadline for the committee was fixed till July, the deadline was extended twice, once after July and next after October.

However, according to sources, the committee had completed their documentation works and is ready to be submitted but as Palaniswami did not give appointment to him, the submission of report got delayed.

Sources also said that after the Seventh Pay Commission, experienced senior secondary grade teachers and government officials got salary lesser than their junior counterparts, thousands of governmentofficials were affected due to the disparity.

Recently, Sridhar Committee, appointed for implementing disputes in pension and to explore the possibilities of implementing family pension scheme for government officials, submitted its report to the state government.