790 posts withdrawn as Div Coms sleep over recruitment for 14 years

Jammu: Bizarre and terribly absurd this may sound to the job seekers but top bureaucrats have done this over 14 years –the Jammu and Kashmir administration has withdraw 790 posts of class –IV employees, which were referred to Divisional Commissioners of both regions in 2006, for selecting eligible candidates through open competition.

Moreover, the government has also directed the Divisional Commissioners to return these posts to the concerned administrative departments, which will refer these posts to J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB).

“No progress has been made so far to fill these 790 posts across Jammu and Kashmir despite passage of 11 years and constitution of district as well as divisional level selection committees,” an official said.

“In 2006, then government of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had referred 790 class-IV posts including 280 to Divisional Commissioner Jammu and 510 to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir respectively, for selection of eligible candidates through open competition but they repeatedly expressed their inability to conclude the selection process citing shortcomings in the selection process,” he said.

“Out of class-IV 280 posts referred to Divisional Commissioner, Jammu included 217 posts of divisional cadre and 63 of state cadre while 510 posts class-IV employees referred to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir included 394 posts of divisional cadre and 116 post of state cadre,” he added.

“After referral of vacancies to the Divisional Commissioners, the procedure for selection of Class-IV posts in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was reviewed and the Government vide Government Order No.735-GAD of 2008 dated May 30, 2008 read with Government Order No.731-GAD of 2010 dated 24 June 2010, constituted Selection Committees at District and Divisional Levels for selection of Class-IV posts,” the order issued by Reyaz Ahmad Wani Deputy Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department (GAD) reads.

“On 17 July, 2018, State Administrative Council, decided to dispense interview for Class –IV posts and directed that further the selection for these posts be made solely on the basis of marks obtained in a written test to be conducted by the Services Selection Board,” the order reads.

“The SAC decision stands notified vide SRO 404 of 2018 dated 15 October 2018; and Whereas, vide SRO-578 of 2018 dated 17 December 2018, all such Selection Committee(s) constituted vide Government Order No.735-GAD of 2008 dated 30 May 2008, read with Government Order No.731-GAD of 2010 dated 24 June 2010, have been abolished except such selection Committee (s) which have conducted the written test or published the shortlist or conducted interview, prior to issuance of SRO 404 dated 15 September 2018,” the order reads. “The Government has reviewed the issue and decided that the selection process in respect of Class-IV posts referred to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, vide Government Order No. 42-GAD of 2006 dated 09.01.2006, be cancelled forthwith,” the order reads.

“Therefore, the selection process initiated by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, in pursuance of Government Order No.42-GAD of 2006 dated 09 Jan 2006, is hereby cancelled,” the order reads.

“The Divisional Commissioners will return these posts to the concerned administrative departments immediately which will refer these posts to the General Administration Department (GAD) for their further referral to J&K Services Selection Board after ascertaining the availability of vacancies as on date and seeking prior concurrence of the Finance Department as mandated in terms of Government Order No.1136-GAD of 2018 dated 12 July 2018,” the order reads.