Veterinary Officers Give Punjab Govt 10-Day Ultimatum Over Pay Parity
Babushahi Bureau
Mohali, July 7, 2025: Discontent is once again brewing among Veterinary Officers of Punjab's Animal Husbandry Department, who have issued a 10-day ultimatum to the state government for the restoration of their pay parity with medical officers. Failing this, the officers have warned of launching a full-scale agitation.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the state executive of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Vets for Pay Parity held here today. The officers announced an immediate boycott of the Government of India’s flagship programme ‘Surabhi Sarankhla’, under which milk recording of elite milch cattle is conducted and uploaded to a central portal.
The JAC members said their protest had earlier been suspended following positive assurances from the state government, but a lack of concrete action has forced them to revive their stir.
JAC convener Dr Gurcharan Singh said that for over four decades, Veterinary Officers enjoyed pay scales at par with Medical and Dental Officers. However, the previous Congress government arbitrarily reduced their scale without valid justification, despite a clear verdict from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, upheld by the Supreme Court, supporting pay parity.
He added that despite repeated memoranda and meetings with the state government and Animal Husbandry Ministers, they have only received verbal assurances with no actual implementation. Dr Singh further alleged that government employees are being pressured by senior officials to meet unreasonable targets, and those who resist are being harassed with charge sheets and suspension notices.
JAC co-conveners Dr Puneet Malhotra and Dr Abdul Majid said that if the state government fails to act within the 10-day window, the entire veterinary cadre will be compelled to take to the streets in protest.
The committee called upon the government to take immediate steps to restore the pay parity and address the worsening service conditions of veterinary staff across Punjab.