Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's 12th Pay Commission remains in limbo, with the state government yet to decide whether to extend its tenure or formally discontinue its work, leaving the office staff without any meaningful work for months.

The commission, headed by former Chief Secretary Dr VP Joy, was constituted by the previous LDF government on February 23 with an initial tenure of three months. Its terms of reference were notified on March 5, and the tenure expired at the end of May.

Before its term ended, the commission had sought a six-month extension. However, the change in government following the Assembly elections left the request pending.

The UDF government, which assumed office on May 18, has maintained that a pay revision is not an immediate priority, citing the state's financial constraints. Although Chief Minister VD Satheesan had said the government would decide whether the commission should continue, no decision has been taken so far.

If the commission's tenure is extended, the government will eventually have to consider its recommendations on salary revision. However, the state's strained finances have made such a move difficult.

At the same time, formally winding up the commission could trigger protests from government employees' organisations.

Besides the chairman and commission members, 14 staff members, including an Additional Secretary and a Joint Secretary deputed from the Secretariat, continue to remain attached to the commission despite having little or no work.

The government has neither recalled these employees to their parent departments nor issued any instructions regarding the commission's future. Even the official vehicle allotted to the commission has reportedly been returned, as there was uncertainty over who would bear its expenses. Since the commission's tenure expired, the chairman and members have stopped attending the office.

The previous LDF government announced the 12th Pay Commission just ahead of the Assembly elections, reportedly under pressure from employees' organisations despite the state's financial crisis.

The recommendations of the 11th Pay Commission were accepted by the government in April 2021 and implemented with retrospective effect from July 2019.