NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: In the past one year both recruiting agencies including Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) have collected over 31 crore as job test fees from students and it has no proposal to abolish it. In a written reply to a question raised by Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone, General Administration Department (GAD) informed the House that Rs 31,75,32,400 has been collected as application fees by the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board.
According to the government’s written reply, a total of Rs 31,75,32,400 have been collected by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) from October 12, 2024, till date. The amount represents cumulative receipts from application fees paid by candidates applying for various government posts during the period.
Responding to whether the government intends to abolish the application fee, the Minister in charge clarified that no such proposal is currently under consideration. The reply stated that the fee collection serves a functional purpose — helping recruitment agencies meet administrative and operational expenses incurred during examinations.
“The application fee charged by recruiting agencies is to meet the administrative and operational expenses incurred in conducting examinations,” the government said, explaining that these costs include advertisement, processing of applications, printing of examination material, deployment of manpower, and technological infrastructure.
Officials maintained that the existing fee structure remains ‘reasonable’ and comparable to rates charged by other government recruiting agencies across the country. They emphasised that the revenue supports the goal of ensuring transparency, efficiency, and smooth execution of recruitment processes across Jammu and Kashmir.
The clarification comes at a time when recruitment in the Union Territory has drawn public attention, with several competitive examinations under scrutiny over issues of paper leaks and delays. While candidates have been demanding either a reduction or waiver of the application fee, the government’s latest response makes clear that such financial exemptions are unlikely in the near future.
In a post on X, formerly twitter, Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone slammed the government for breaking its promises. “In its election manifesto, JKNC promised to waive off application fees for recruitment agencies like SSRB, JKPSC, and other institutions in J&K. I asked a question to find out whether that election promise had been fulfilled,” Lone said.
He added that the Minister in-charge of GAD – who also happens to be the MLA from Ganderbal and the Chief Minister- informed the House that Rs 31 crore had been collected in fees since the government came to power in October last year. “This Rs 31 crore reflects one of the many broken promises and a trail of lies and deceit,” Lone said. “Please, for once, can they admit that they lied – and apologise?
