After over a decade of waiting, the promotion of Assistant Accounts Officers (AAOs) to the rank of Accounts Officers (AOs) under Government Order No. 126-F of 2025 dated April 23 has brought mixed emotions across Jammu and Kashmir’s Finance Department. While the elevation ends a long period of stagnation, the delay in cadre adjustments has left many officers disillusioned.
Having served for nearly 13 years without career progression, the officers now find themselves promoted in name only. “What is the point of this promotion if we are still working in the same capacity, with no clarity on postings or seniority?” asked one newly promoted AO. Several others echoed similar concerns, calling the move “half-baked” and “symbolic.”
The cadre adjustment is a crucial next step—it determines where the officers will be posted, their revised roles, and their financial entitlements. However, there has been no follow-up notification detailing timelines or implementation plans.
“We appreciate the government’s recognition of our long-pending demand, but we urge the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Finance Minister Omar Abdullah to immediately resolve the issue,” a group of affected employees told.
Many see the delay as a continuation of the systemic neglect that kept them waiting over a decade for this promotion. Unless swift action is taken, they warn, the morale of the entire accounts cadre could be further damaged. (KDC)
