SHOPIAN: Despite a letter from the Lieutenant Governor’s office to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) urging it to look into the matter, nothing has been done for the last six months, leaving a group of JKAS aspirants frustrated and demanding immediate redressal.
The candidates, who appeared in the JKAS examination conducted by the JKPSC and whose results were declared in recent past, have demanded the implementation of the Reserve List mechanism as mandated under the rules. Speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, the aspirants said that as per the provisions of the rule, the number of candidates called for medical examination should have been proportionately fewer than the number of vacancies notified. They alleged that the rule has not been followed and the list declared appears to be final in nature.
“The mechanism of operating a reserve list is very different from a waiting list. Unfortunately, the Commission seems to have overlooked this distinction. The reserve list is a statutory requirement under S.O 61, Section 7, Clause ii, and must be maintained in order of merit below the last recommended candidate in each category,” the candidates explained.
The aggrieved aspirants pointed out that under the rule, along with the main list of recommended candidates, the Commission is duty-bound to prepare and maintain a consolidated reserve list. This list, they said, should include both general and reserved category candidates, ranking in order of merit, and is meant to be kept confidential until the process of recommendation is finalized.
They further explained that the rule also empowers the Government to requisition candidates from the reserve list to fill vacancies that may arise, with the reserve list remaining valid for one year from the date of the recommendation of the first list. “This safeguard is meant to ensure that vacancies caused due to non-joining or other reasons do not remain unfilled. But if the reserve list is not maintained, the purpose of the rule is defeated,” they said.
Some candidates also expressed disappointment that despite the Raj Bhawan’s intervention six months ago, the Commission has yet to move forward. “If even the Lieutenant Governor’s letter is ignored, what hope remains for ordinary aspirants? It is about fairness and transparency in the recruitment process,” another candidate remarked.
An official said that there was no question of ignoring the rules and the Commission will act in accordance with the law,” he assured. [KNT]
