SRINAGAR – In a first step of its kind, the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh have thrown open employment avenues for non-locals by inviting applications to fill 33 vacancies in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
The 33 vacant posts of non-gazetted officials include those of senior scale stenographer, junior scale stenographer, steno typist, compositor, electrician and driver. 17 among the advertised posts are in the “OM (open merit)” category, paving way for anyone from outside J&K to apply.
This is the first time after the revocation of Article 370 and 35A and splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, the eligibility for any government job hasn’t been limited to “permanent residents” of Kashmir and Ladakh.
The advertisement to fill the vacancies was issued by the J&K High Court’s Registrar General Sanjay Dhar on December 26 with the last date for submission of applications being January 31, 2020.
“The application forms shall be received by the concerned principal district judges of the UTs of J&K and Ladakh within whose jurisdiction the applicant resides against the proper receipts duly stamped.
“The applicants who do not belong to the UTs of J&K and Ladakh shall submit their application to the Registrar General, J&K High Court, Jammu,” the advertisement read.
It said the principal district judges of Kashmir province, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Ladakh would make necessary arrangements for the receipt of application forms even during the ensuing winter vacation.
“All principal district judges of J&K and Ladakh shall submit the application forms along with the list of candidates to the office of the Registrar General, J&K High Court, Jammu by or before February 7, 2020,” the advertisement said.
It said the selection would be made as per J&K Reservation Rules 2005.
“The candidates who are having age as on January 1, 2019 not below 18 years and not above 40 years in case of open merit, 43 years in case of SC/ST/RBA/ALC/OSCs, 42 years in case of physically challenged, 48 years in case of ex-servicemen and 40 years in case of candidates in government service or contractual employees are eligible for participation in the selection process,” the notice read.
Opening J&K jobs for outsiders unacceptable: Panthers Party
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party on Monday accused the Union territory’s government of having jeopardised the career of unemployed educated youths in J&K by opening local state jobs for outsiders, asserting that it is “unacceptable”.
In a first step of its kind, opening the state employment in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh for candidates from across the country after nullification of Article 370, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has invited applications from eligible candidates from all over India to fill 33 vacancies with it.
“It would not only mar the prospects of the local unemployed educated youths but would also have a demoralising effect upon the educated aspiring youths of the erstwhile state,” JKNPP chairperson Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here.
J&K does not have much scope for absorption of educated unemployed youths in the private sector. And the employment opportunities in the government sector are also very limited, said the former education minister.
Throwing open government jobs in J&K to youths from all over the country would not only be a grave injustice with the J&K youths but could also have serious ramifications, said Singh.
Not only the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has invited applications on all India basis but the J&K Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) too has opened employment with it to candidates from all over India, he added.
He said the JKTPO managing director had earlier issued an advertisement on December 17 inviting applications for filling up seven posts of ‘professional interns’ on consolidated remuneration of Rs 25,000 per month from all eligible persons on All India basis.
The notification had further said the new appointees shall be entrusted with the task of showcasing J&K’s strengths, strategies and potential, said Singh.
Accusing the government of having jeopardized the careers of J&K unemployed youths, the JKNPP said the move was fraught with dangerous portends.
The J&K government was hardly advertising any new posts to fill up vacancies in government departments despite the ever growing number of unemployed educated youths year after year.
“The simmering discontent among youths against the government apathy could have earthshaking consequences in case the J&K jobs are opened to outsiders without protecting the interest of local youths said Singh.
Lambasting the BJP for diminishing and marring the career prospects of J&K youths, Singh said it should get prepared to face the fury of youths who had been cajoled and lured by it during elections through its seductive slogans.
He said in September also, the BJP had objected to the demand that the posts for police constables should be filled by state’s permanent residents only, saying that after the abrogation of Article 370 abrogation, all citizens of the country had become entitled to participate in the selection process in J&K.
Protect Govt Jobs For Locals: NC
National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Monday demanded protection of government jobs for locals in Jammu and Kashmir, saying unemployment has alarmingly grown manifold during the recent years.
“J&K government jobs are for local educated unemployed and should be reserved for local youth only”, the Provincial President told journalists here.
Rana expressed concern over limited avenues of employment, saying a thrust is needed to be laid on fast track recruitment process and to put in place a robust mechanism of employability.
“A roadmap had already been drawn in this regard few years back, which he regretted to have fallen prey to political myopism,” he said.
The senior NC leader said the administration should launch a pro-active and fast-track drive by making designated agencies accountable to fill up the large number of vacancies in various departments to address to the burgeoning unemployment rate among local youth.
He said the vacancies have neither been notified or advertised during the past few years now, causing despondency among educated unemployed, many of whom are turning over aged for government jobs.
“In the meantime, all the departments should notify for information of the unemployed educated the number of vacancies in all the categories, he added.
He also demanded special drives for time bound recruitment in remote and far off areas.
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