No check on Reservation Policy & Backlog vacancies in PSC under LG Administration, says Kalsotra

Jammu, 05.07.22: The State President of All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations, RK Kalsotra, flanked by the aggrieved highly qualified Research Scholars belonging to the reserved category held a Press Conference & submitted a memorandum to the Lieutenant Governor, Sh Manoj Sinha regarding the issue of pending backlogs along with Chairman National Commission SC/ST/OBC, Chief Secy, Commissioner Secretaries SW/Tribals, Chairperson PSC/SSRB.

The Research scholars from the reserved category have been facing issues with the backlog posts of Assistant Professor in Higher Education department UT of J&K under Ist and 2nd special drive as notified by the JKPSC, vide notification no.: 15- PSC (DR-P) OF 2021 dated 23-12-2021.

In this notification, there are total 136 posts, of which SC have 27 and ST have 25 posts. But on 03-02-2022 the General Administration Department (GAD) informed the PSC that the Administration council has decided to withdraw all the posts referred to PSC prior to 30-10-2019 for which selection has not been finalized till date ( Notification no. : GAD- MTGORBIU/200/2021-09-GAD; dated 03-02-2022).

However, respected Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha had assured that these posts shall be put to fresh advertisement within two months for recruitment on a fast track basis. JKPSC On 25-05-2022 again release the notification for filling up the posts of Assistant Professor in different disciplines in Govt. Degree Colleges of JK(UT) in Higher education department notification no. 13-PSC(DR-P) OF 2022, dated 25-05-2022. In this notification, there are total 126 posts which are almost similar to the previous notification posts, but there are only 13 posts for SC, 11 for ST, and 01 for OSC. In this notification, there is no addition of backlog vacancies as notified by the previous notification that was withdrawn by govt. It seems that earlier backlog posts are converted into general posts in this notification.

Furthermore on 29-06-22 JKPSC notified for information to all the aspirants that, The words (notification no. 15-PSC(DR-P) OF 2021, dated 23-12-2021) in NOTE below item no. 04 (i.e age as on 01/01/2021) in Notification no. 13-PSC(DR-P) OF 2022, dated 25-05-2022 shall be deemed to have been deleted ab-initio. In this notification, it also mentions that the candidates who are earlier applied for these posts and were in the age limit as per the advertisement notification no. 15-PSC(DR-P) OF 2021, dated 23-12-2021 need not to pay any fee afresh. But JKPSC charges an application fee of Rs 500 again when we apply for the post as per Notification no. 13-PSC (DR-P) OF 2022, dated 25-05-2022, and the application form is not submitted without paying fee.

Due to the non-seriousness and unwillingness of the authorities to implement the order of the Supreme Court and Central govt. regarding the clearance of backlog vacancies in the Higher Education Department, the Scholars, highly qualified youth belonging to reserved categories are suffering a lot in their carrier progression. This also amounts to a grave violation of constitutional rights granted to the reserved categories of people.

Similar instances have been repeated by the issuing authority JKSSRB in their advertisements. The issue of age relaxation is also something that hasn’t been addressed by the administration yet. The norms followed in J&K are not in compliance with those of the centre which provides for five years of relaxation for SC/ST candidates.

Moreover, the parliament has also brought in amendments concerning the issue of backlog clearance. But no heed is paid to them. One instance of this is the recruitment done till the start of SKUAST Jammu/Kashmir wherein the reservation policy was completely ignored in the teaching cadre.

R k Kalsotra said in a press conference that whenever we met LG, he always assured to fully implement reservation rules. Adding on, a list was submitted of pending backlogs of 1.04 lacs to be filled through a special drive but nothing has come out. He further added that in order to better protect the rights of reserved categories as stipulated in the constitutions of India, the LG should step in and kindly advise the concerned to advertise the backlog vacancy again without further delay and address the issues of age relaxation within a stipulated timeframe.

Other scholars who joined the press conference included Amit Kumar, zaib-Ul-Nisa, Ravi Kumar, Tahira Firdos, Pritam Kumar, Lalita Devi, Ushma Syal, Qamar Majid, and JR Chopra State Coordinator, Confederation