Last Updated on February 18, 2021 at 11:10 am
Other than high unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, slow recruitment process speed is another reason for concern among youth of the region.
It has been more than a decade since aspirants for over 279 posts in Forest Department are waiting for the recruitment process to be completed by Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB). Aspirants said that in 2010, JKSSB had advertised posts of State and Divisional Cadre. Among these 279 posts, Kashmir division had 139 posts of Foresters while 16 posts were of Inspectors in Forest Protection Force (FPF). 85 posts were for Jammu division and 39 posts of Inspectors in FPF.
The JKSSB took three years just for starting the process of Walk-Test and issued date sheet for Walk-test to be held in March 2013. The board directed all the candidates who had earlier qualified the height measurement to participate in the Walk-test of 25 kilometres for male and 14 kilometres for female.
However, some candidates raised objections on the procedure and requested to put a stay on the process which the court obliged. As a result, the recruitment process remained on hold for last more than seven years. An aspirant told Early Times that the JKSSB authorities didn’t pursue the case properly and it took more than six years for them to get the stay cleared. Many aspirants who had applied in the year 2010, have already crossed the upper age limit. Even though they could appear for the tests, but now it would be difficult for them to qualify for the walk-test.
The aspirants alleged that recruitment agencies of J&K lack professionalism as the stay was vacated in September 2020, but the agency didn’t further notify about the recruitment process.
The aspirants demanded that the Lieutenant Governor led J&K administration should consider the matter and direct the JKSSB to soon finish the process and without any further delay. Aspirants said that they had also talked to JKSSB Chairman in October 2020. At that time, he had assured them that the recruitment process would be completed soon but so far there is no notification.
Sachin Jamwal, Secretary JKSSB, said that the unexpected delay was caused because of the court stay as some aspirants had gone to the court. The stay was lifted a few months back and the JKSSB authorities are working to complete the recruitment process soon.
