The high-level review chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding the functioning of the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board is timely and telling. At a time when unemployment in the Union Territory continues to be one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges, the delays in recruitment processes, particularly in essential service sectors like healthcare, power, education, and financial administration, are not only unacceptable-they are detrimental to public welfare and institutional integrity. The JKSSB Chairperson’s comprehensive report painted a mixed picture: progress in certain areas but stagnation and backlogs in others. What stood out starkly was the revelation that many posts remain unadvertised due to delays in departments submitting their recruitment indents or because of the need to revise outdated recruitment rules. This bureaucratic inertia is creating a vicious cycle-departments that are under-resourced and overburdened fail to move the files, and the vacancies continue to grow. In the meantime, public services suffer, and the unemployed youth of J&K are left waiting, often for years, for opportunities that should have been available to them long ago.
Nowhere is this failure more damaging than in the essential services. Hospitals across J&K are struggling to maintain operational efficiency due to a lack of staff-paramedics, technicians, and doctors in district hospitals and primary health centres are stretched thin. In emergency situations or during public health crises these shortages become life-threatening. The Electricity Department faces a similar dilemma. With rising demand and the necessity for round-the-clock service, unfilled technical and engineering posts hinder regular maintenance and quick response to breakdowns, resulting in long power outages and growing public discontent. Similarly, schools and colleges suffer from a chronic shortage of teachers and administrative staff, hampering both the quality of education and its accessibility, especially in rural areas. Accounts and Financial Departments, vital for ensuring timely disbursal of salaries, pensions, and development funds, also face staff shortages. This leads to delays in budgeting, auditing, and financial reporting, which can have cascading effects across governance functions. These are just a few examples, as every Government vacancy holds its own significance.
What makes the situation even more complex and detrimental is the recently introduced rule stating that any vacancy left unfilled for two years will be automatically abolished. Simultaneously, these recruitment delays also ripple outward into public trust. A growing number of qualified youth are forced to look outside J&K for employment, or worse, fall into long-term unemployment, breeds frustration and resentment. The Government’s promise of transparency and meritocracy loses its sheen when exam schedules are postponed repeatedly or recruitment notifications are not issued on time.
Additionally, the lack of coordination between various departments and recruitment bodies like JKSSB leads to a disjointed and sluggish system. Indents are not submitted on time, and when they are, they often require revision due to outdated recruitment rules that no longer align with current job descriptions. These administrative hiccups delay the advertising of posts, let alone conducting examinations or finalizing selections. Departments that fail to comply with these directives must be held accountable. Exemplary administrative action-whether through official censures, internal audits, or even penalties-should be considered to instil a sense of urgency and responsibility. Without accountability, directives risk becoming mere rhetoric.
In a region like J&K, where youth aspirations run high but opportunities remain limited, the Government has a moral and administrative duty to remove all barriers in the recruitment process. Strengthening institutions like JKSSB, improving inter-departmental coordination, and establishing a culture of accountability can transform the employment landscape. A binding directive must be issued to all departments. This should be supported by a centralized digital dashboard tracking the status of vacancies, indents, recruitment timelines, and reasons for any delays. Delays are not just technical lapses-they are socio-economic setbacks. The administration must act with urgency as the situation demands. The future of thousands of youth and the effectiveness of essential public services depends on it.
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