JAMMU, Feb 18: The Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation (JKMEF), representing the Jammu province wing, has called for a two-hour strike on February 20, 2026, in a strong protest against recent government orders that have slashed salaries and eroded service conditions for thousands of medical workers across government hospitals and medical colleges.
The decisive action was finalized during an emergency meeting convened at the DHS Complex, chaired by Federation President Jaswinder Singh, and attended by key office-bearers alongside representatives from Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and its allied hospitals. Participants expressed deep outrage over Order Number Acctt/236/2022-02 dated January 20, 2026, which halted an allowance equivalent to two-and-a-half days’ salary by invoking the controversial SRO-91 of 1982. They also condemned Order Number 807-HME of 2025, issued by the Director Finance, as arbitrary and punitive, arguing it undermines the financial stability and morale of frontline health workers already strained by post-pandemic workloads.
JKMEF Chairman and PCI member Sushil Sudan led the sharpest critique, slamming the reclassification of lab assistants, drivers, Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), and sanitary workers as “ministerial staff.” He described this as a blatant violation of SRO-334 dated July 13, 2022, which explicitly protected their distinct service categories and entitlements. “This misclassification strips them of rightful benefits, seniority progression, and specialized allowances they’ve earned over years of dedicated service,” Sudan asserted, warning of cascading impacts on recruitment, retention, and overall healthcare delivery in the region.
The meeting saw robust participation from JKMEF General Secretary Parfulat Singh, GMC Jammu representatives Anoop Khajuria and Amarjeet Singh, Working President Bahadur Singh, Secretary Ram Lal, Office Secretary Kulwant Singh, and Press Secretary Tejinder Singh, reflecting widespread unity across ranks from doctors and nurses to support staff.
Demanding immediate revocation of both impugned orders, the Federation has issued an ultimatum: failure to redress these grievances will trigger escalated protests, including potential indefinite strikes, mass resignations, or legal challenges in high courts. This standoff highlights deepening tensions between the health workforce and the administration amid J&K’s ongoing push for healthcare reforms, with employees insisting that fair compensation is non-negotiable for sustaining quality public health services.
