Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: Engineers appointed under the Prime Minister’s Package (PM Package) in the Public Works Department (R&B) in 2010 have accused the department of sidelining their batch in the recent promotions to Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), terming it a “grave injustice” and “discriminatory order’’.
In a statement issued here, today the package engineers said the controversy stems from Government Order (G.O.) No. 120 PW(R&B) of 2026, issued on April 10, 2026, which granted promotions to Batch 2011 from Assistant Engineer (Civil) to AEE, allegedly bypassing the 2010 PM Package batch.
They said these engineers were initially incorporated into the final seniority list of R&B engineers vide G.O. No. 460 of 2019. However, G.O. No. 34 JK DMRRR of 2022 led to a separate seniority list under G.O. No. 277 PW(R&B) of 2022. They were promoted as Assistant Engineers on supernumerary posts vide G.O. No. 211 PW(R&B) of 2022.
They said a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo last year has issued the Minutes of Meeting (MOM ) directed that their issues should be examined and status report should be prepared vide MOM No. DMRRR-MR/35-2025 dated December 9, 2025.
Subsequently, PWD(R&B) constituted an Internal Committee on February 4, this year to define functional roles across zonal, divisional, and sub-divisional levels, examine transitions from supernumerary to substantive posts for equitable career progression and submit a detailed report within two months (by April 4, 2026).
Despite the deadline, no report has been filed, fueling accusations of deliberate delay, they said.
“This is a clear violation of due process and repeated Government directives,” a PM Package engineer said on condition of anonymity.
The engineers have demanded immediate rectification, urging absorption and inclusion in promotions to uphold fairness for these “hapless engineers.”
Meanwhile BJP Displaced District president Rajoo Kumar Pandita, party spokesperson and ex MLC , Ajay Bharti, BJP KDD Prabhari, Chand Ji Bhat and co convener, H L Bhat have expressed their grave concern over what they called denial of promotions to package employees. In a joint statement they said this shows the mindset of present NC Government which has always treated the community as second class citizens. They warned to launch agitation in case the justice is not given to hapless employees of the community who at the risk of their lives volunteered to serve in Valley.
R K Bhat president Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) who has been pursuing the issue of displaced youth and whose organisation struggled for the package has also expressed his concern over the denial of promotions to package engineers and urged the Government to settle the issue without further delay.
However, when contacted the Additional Secretary, PWD Tanveer Majid Wani said that the package employees have been appointed on supernumerary posts so their promotion orders will be issued separately within some days.
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