JKPSC collected over Rs 8.44 cr, JKSSB over Rs 5.72 crore as application fee
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: In Jammu and Kashmir, over 32,474 posts stand lying vacant in as many as 37 departments.
Whereas 3727 vacancies have been referred to the Public Service Commission and Services Selection Board since October 16, 2024, the day the government took oath.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed this in response to a question raised by MLA Handwara Sajad Lone.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who happens to be the Minister in Charge of the General Administration Department, informed the assembly that 32,474 posts—2,503 gazetted, 19,214 non-gazetted, and 10,757 multi-tasking staff (MTS)—were vacant as of January 31.
Of these vacancies, 738 gazetted, 1,754 non-gazetted and 1,235 MTS posts were referred to JKSSB and JKPSC after the government formation, he said, adding 594 gazetted posts are to be filled in the school education department, 56 in the health and medical education department, 45 in the power department and 41 horticulture department.
The Health and Medical Education Department has 7,851 vacancies; the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) department has 3,759 posts vacant; Animal Husbandry Department has 2,589 vacancies; Industries and Commerce has 2,517. The Housing and Urban Development has 2,420, the Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare 1,340, the Power Department 1,305, the Food and Supplies Department 1,131, the Finance Department 1,009, the aRevenue Department 1,004, Jal Shakti 856 and the School Education department has fill 770 vacancies.
The Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction is the only one that has no vacancies.
Responding to the question about the collection of revenue from exam fees, the Chief Minister informed that Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Collection collected over Rs 8.44 crore and JKSSB over Rs 5.72 crore as application fees from the candidates since October 16, last year.
“Presently, no such proposal (to make job application forms free for aspirants) is under consideration,” Abdullah said.
Lone had sought information about the total number of vacancies in various departments in Jammu and Kashmir as of January 31 and those referred to the two government recruiting agencies after the formation of the National Conference-led dispensation.
