Recruitment process for hundreds of posts in limbo due to unrest

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 17: Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, Service Selection Board, District Level Recruitment Committees and Departmental Committees are facing tremendous administrative issues for recruitment and selection of candidates against hundreds of notified vacancies because of the prevailing law and order situation.
The recruiting agencies are devising strategies for timely filling of vacancies in view of the inability of candidates to reach the designated offices due to the prevailing situation.
According to officials in the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), the Commission has notified 277 posts of Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) and 24 posts of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons for which last date of filling online application forms was fixed as July 25 which was later extended to August 10. Deputy Commissioners of all the districts also facilitated more than 2300 candidates for filling up online forms at respective NICs. However, a large number of candidates are yet to complete the formalities and accordingly the PSC has once again extended the last date.
According to PSC officials, the interviews for the post of Medical Officer and MO Ayurvedic have been rescheduled to be held on August 28 as the same could not commence on notified date of July 10. Seven posts of dental surgeon were also notified for which interview has been postponed to September 12.
Likewise, according to Service Selection Board officials, recruitment process for more than 800 vacancies notified by the Board has also been delayed and cut-off dates were extended with latest being on August 15. These posts, according to SSB, include Assistant Cameraman, Junior Yatchman, Presenting Officer, Drivers, Physical Training Instructors, Draftsman, Enforcement Inspector, Crafts Instructor, Technicians, Electricians, Junior Assistants, Teachers, VLWs and Senior Assistants in departments of Information, Tourism, Law, Finance, FCS&CA, Higher Education, School Education and Industries & Commerce among others.
Similarly, District Level Recruitment Committees headed by Deputy Commissioners have also initiated process of recruitment of Special Police Officers (SPO) after notification for filling of posts was issued by Director General of Police on August 6 with last date for filling application forms fixed as August 25. A large number of applications have already been received at district headquarters.
Department of Tourism earlier notified posts of Tourist Guides, Garden Guards and Landscapers across the State for which last date has been extended to September 3 and selection process will be followed by training at Institute of Hotel Management in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism.
Divisional Administration has been asked by State Government for making all arrangements to facilitate the candidates for recruitment process to ensure that candidates are not left out of the employment opportunities available in various sectors and departments.