Pay Shock for Thousands: Himachal Govt’s Rollback Leaves Employees Facing Salary Cuts
In a move that has left thousands of government employees stunned and anxious, the Himachal Pradesh government has withdrawn a key provision of the 2022 pay revision, potentially slashing monthly salaries for many. The Finance Department’s latest notification, issued under the Civil Services Revised Pay Second Amendment Rules 2025, has nullified the rule that allowed employees to move to higher pay grades after two years of service.
What’s more concerning is that the change is retrospective, effective from January 3, 2022. This means salaries will now be recalculated as if the rule never existed. While the government has clarified that it won’t recover the extra salaries already paid, the rollback still threatens a significant drop in future earnings.
The decision affects 89 categories of employees, including clerks, junior office assistants, drivers, technicians, peons, safai karamcharis, nurses, teachers, and forest guards. For many, the 2022 revision had brought a welcome increase of ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per month—a boost that helped families manage rising costs and responsibilities. Now, that relief is at risk.
The news has sparked immediate concern and unrest. The Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Services Employees Organisation held an emergency meeting, led by President Sanjeev Sharma, who warned that the rollback would cause serious financial hardship. Departments have already been instructed to implement the changes, adding urgency to the situation.
“We’ve built our lives around the revised salaries,” Sharma said. “This sudden reversal is unfair and unsustainable.” The employee body plans to meet the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and Principal Secretary (Finance) to demand a withdrawal of the new notification.
As tensions rise, the possibility of statewide protests looms. All eyes are now on the upcoming meeting with the Chief Minister, which could determine whether the rollback stands—or is reconsidered in light of its human impact.
