Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 17: The State Government through its contradictory order has blocked the regularization of over 300 Agriculture graduates of the State, more qualified and better skilled, who were engaged as Rehbar-e-Zirats (ReZs) 7 years ago.
The State Government issued regularization order (No. 378-Agri 2013 dated 28/11/2013) of over 2642 ReZs in the State in three phases starting from April 1, 2014, April 1, 2015 and April 1, 2016. The first phase that was to take off in April this year became causality of the contradictory Government order that was challenged in the court of law.
Under the Government order, the State Government was to regularize these ReZs in three phases with 881 each in first two phases and 880 in the third and last phase. The contradictory order reads: “The period spent on study/project shall not be counted while arriving at 7 years of service to make the candidates eligible for regularization irrespective of nature of permission in this regard.”
The order has left over 300 agriculture graduates ineligible for regularization as they were working in Centrally sponsored research projects in SKUAST-J, SKUAST-K, Kashmir University and Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH) and were pursuing higher studies for which they were permitted by the Government.
A circular issued (under order No. Agri/NG/53/2002-Genl dated 18/04/2007) by Government to allow the ReZs to work in research projects reads: “A view has been taken that allowing such graduates to continue to their present assignment would enlarge their experience and learning and would therefore strengthen the human capacity available for horticulture and agriculture sectors. Now, therefore it has been decided that all such agriculture/horticulture graduates in the above mentioned cases (working in research projects and pursing higher studies) be allowed to continue in other organizations/projects/research etc subject to their application in this behalf. They would continue to be registered as ReZ under the scheme but will not be entitled for the monthly stipend for the period such agriculture/horticulture graduates remain on aforementioned engagement.”
It may be mentioned here that Government engaged 2641 unemployed graduates as the ReZs in 2007 under a Cabinet decision (No. 248/14 dated 23-10-2006) and Government order (No. 20-Agri of 2007 dated 06-02-2007) on monthly stipend of Rs 1500. However, there was a rider over their engagement of these agriculture graduates as ReZ. The Government order reads: “Candidates shall execute an agreement with Chief Agriculture Officer stating that they are not performing any Government service whether on contract basis or adhoc.”
After the engagement of the unemployed graduates as ReZs, there was crisis in the Centrally sponsored research projects as majority of the graduates involved in these projects left them halfway. Government issued an order to overcome the crisis and allowed these graduates to work in various departs and pursue research (order No. Agri/NG/53/2002-Genl dated 18/04/2007).
In 2011 Government (Order No. 235-Agri of 2011 dated 10-08-2011) formulated the policy of regularization of the ReTs and created 2642 posts of Village Agriculture Extension Assistants. “Creation of 2642 posts of Village Agriculture Extension Assistants by the Agriculture Production Department…881 in first phase, 881 in second phase and 880 in third and final phase. However, these posts shall be utilized for the regularization of the eligible/selected ReZ candidates with effect from Ist April 2014 (first phase), Ist April 2015 (second phase), Ist April 2016 (third phase),” reads the order.
Even after the issuance of contradictory order making the ReZs working in various research projects as ineligible for regularization, Government issued another order to allow them to work in these research projects.
The permission was issued by the Government in response to the letter written by CITH to the Commissioner Secretary Government Agriculture Production Department (F. No. PA/Dir/655-52 dated 03-09-2013) seeking consideration of registered ReZs to continue in State and national research projects undergoing in Government organizations.
The Government allowed the registered ReZs to work in the research projects till they are regularized. The Government order (No Agri/NG/53/2002/Part-II, Part V dated 24-09-2013) reads: “I am directed to refer your letter No. F. No. PA/Dir/655-52 dated 03-09-2013 regarding the subjected circulated above and to convey the approval of the administrative department for continuation of ReZ working in your institute till they complete their assignments or their absorption in the department whichever is earlier.”
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