MHA says ‘Recruitment rules for 1142 gazetted posts in 75 categories framed’; ‘Budgetary cut may hamper ongoing projects, warns Panel
Arteev Sharma
Jammu, March 11: Amid growing concerns over delays in the recruitment process in Ladakh, a Parliamentary Panel has recommended the expedited filling of 1,275 Gazetted and 3,596 non-Gazetted vacancies across various departments in the Union Territory, warning that the large number of unfilled positions could hinder the administration’s efficiency and smooth functioning.
The panel has also recommended taking up the additional fund requirement of Ladakh with Ministry of Finance at Revised Estimates stages in the backdrop of reduction in fund allocations to the UT.
These recommendations were made in the 252nd report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, presented to Rajya Sabha and tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 10.
“There are 1,275 vacancies in Gazetted posts and 3596 vacancies in non-Gazetted posts in various departments of the UT of Ladakh. Although steps have been taken by the UT administration to fill the vacant posts, the Committee feels number of vacancies are huge in the UT and shortage of officers and staff in various UT administration can affect the smooth and seamless functioning of the administration”, it suggested.
It further recommended that the process of recruitment to fill the vacant posts must be sped up so that the educated young generation of the UT should not be “bereft of employment opportunities in the UT itself”.
The MHA, however, conveyed the Committee that the recruitment to 3172 posts have been done through various recruitment agencies like Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Autonomous Hill Development Subordinate Services Recruitment Board, Leh and Kargil, and Ladakh Police Board after formation of the UT of Ladakh. It further claimed that the recruitment Rules for 75 categories of Gazetted posts, aggregating a total of 1,142 posts have been framed.
Pertinently, several groups in Ladakh have been demanding that the MHA should notify recruitment rules for both Gazetted and non-Gazetted posts to facilitate the selection process and initiate job opportunities in the region.
The Committee also addressed concerns over a reduction in budgetary allocations for Ladakh, noting that funds for the UT have been cut from Rs 5,958 crore in the 2024-25 financial year to Rs 4,692.15 crore (Net basis) for 2025-26. The report warned that this reduction could disrupt ongoing projects and development schemes.
“The Committee feels that the reduction in budgetary allocation can hamper the ongoing works and schemes of the Union Territory,” the report said, adding “The MHA may need to pursue the additional fund requirement with Ministry of Finance at Revised Estimate stage if the UT of Ladakh seeks additional funds at later stage”.
During the meeting of the Committee, the UT administration of Ladakh informed out of the allocated amount of Rs 4692.15 crores in BE (Budget Estimates) 2025-26, Rs 2450 crores is Revenue Component and Rs 2242.15 crores is Capital component.
Out of Rs 2450 crores under Revenue component, Rs 1771.51 crores will be utilized for Salary, allowances and LTC and remaining will be utilized for other major revenue heads such as ORE, Subsidies and Professional Services, Fuels and Lubricants, Material and Supplies and Office Expenses etc., which are essential to run the entablements of the UT of Ladakh.
“The allocation or Rs 2242.15 crores under Capital component will be utilized for already approved schemes where the works are being completed,” the MHA said.
