Asif Iqbal Naik
Kishtwar, Feb 5, 2026: Taking serious note of mounting electricity and water bill arrears, the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma (JKAS), has issued a strict circular directing that salaries of government employees posted in District Kishtwar shall be processed only after verification of clearance of their electricity and water dues.
As per the circular, huge outstanding electricity and water tax liabilities have been found pending against several government employees within the district. With the Financial Year 2025–26 nearing completion, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the critical importance of timely payment of utility bills to avoid disruption of essential services and to maintain financial discipline.
To streamline the recovery mechanism, all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of District Kishtwar have been instructed to ensure that salaries are released only after confirming that the concerned employees have cleared their electricity and water bills up to the end of March 2026. In addition, all Treasury Officers have been directed to entertain salary bills strictly on the basis of a certificate issued by the respective DDOs certifying that utility dues of employees in whose favour salaries are drawn stand fully cleared.
The circular, issued under No. DMK2025-26/4864-14 dated February 5, 2026, also calls upon district and sectoral officers to ensure compliance. Copies of the directions have been forwarded to the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Senior Superintendent of Police Kishtwar, Executive Engineers of Jal Shakti Hydraulic Division and JPDCL Kishtwar, all district/sectoral officers, all DDOs, and Treasury Officers for strict implementation.
The Deputy Commissioner reiterated that the measure is aimed at enforcing accountability among government employees while strengthening revenue realization for essential public services in the district
