Keeping on introduction of the slew of measures to bring Jammu and Kashmir at par with other States and Union Territories in the country following abrogation of Article 370 and rescinding its ‘special status’, the Central Government has taken one more step in this direction by reversing the practice of 50:50 formula in vogue in the erstwhile State in respect of appointment of Indian Administrative Service officers. The practice towards that end started by the UPA Government by virtue of an order during the Coalition Government of Congress – National Conference rule headed by the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah thus stands annulled . In other words, it means that there would, now onwards be direct recruitment of the IAS cadre from direct recruitment basis to the extent of 67 per cent through Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the rest from promotion quota from KAS cadre instead of the current arrangement.
This administrative ‘reform’ was necessitated due to the political and constitutional changes which took place in August last year in respect of Jammu and Kashmir. Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT), Government of India, which has taken this important decision would set aside, an unusual practice of 50:50 formula in the concerned recruitment sanctioned by UPA-2 Government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh. However, all modalities have been finalised and formal orders are shortly going to be issued .It may be recalled that the Central Government had regularly been insisting on cadre review as timely cadre revision was concomitant to better civil service structure which was needed more than ever before in Jammu and Kashmir and now with clear and laid down framework of a well defined arrangement based on 67:33 basis, the decks stand duly cleared.
We have been observing that many departments in Jammu and Kashmir were suffering because critical decisions were not taken in time as they were under ad-hoc arrangements of bureaucrats heading them or remained without the top slots filled ostensibly due to shortage of IAS cadre officers towards which attention was being regularly drawn by DOPT but no heed was being paid by the successive State Governments which would now, to a larger extent, stand resolved. It would be no mincing of words that there was a wilful reluctance on the part of State Governments in allowing officers from ‘outside’ the State beyond 50 per cent which in other words means, that element of politics was preferred to better and quality administration, all under the pretext of ‘special status’. Surprisingly, even most of the local officers too were not in favour of inducting more officers into the cadre from outside the State. Now, not only proper exercise of the cadre review would be done but by bringing the UT of Jammu and Kashmir at par with other nine Union Territories, the cadre strength too would be augmented in tune with requirements resulting in better management of departments and quality administration. Local youth would stand benefitted, the ones who qualify the test by getting absorbed in their home UT.
The decision to this effect should be seen in the light of how better administrative delivery could be effected which could be expected only by there being reasonably adequate strength of IAS cadre. Now that all Central guidelines automatically stand extended to Jammu and Kashmir, much desired changes for the better like the one under reference, were duly assured.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel