The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, which were approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday, were not well-received by all quarters. The Confederation of Central Government Employees has threatened to launch its strike on July 4, instead of July 11 as planned earlier, saying their demands were not met. “Government employees had demanded a minimum salary of Rs 26,000 as against the Rs 18,000 recommended by the commission,” an official said.

Referring to the members of the pay panel, an officer of the Indian Police Service Association said, “What a pity that a few IAS [Indian Administrative Service] officers decide the destiny of the civil services, treat commission reports so contemptuously, throw the progressive civil service reform agenda into the dustbin.”

A senior Indian Revenue Service official also believes that the overall 23.6% hike in the salaries and pensions of central government employees was not high, while an officer of the Indian Army is of the opinion that the changes in the salary structure will worsen the difference between civil servants and military officers, The Hindu reported.