Jammu, Mar 21: There are 24 vacancies, determined by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, to be filled from the officers of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) for induction into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), as of date.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is the Minister Incharge General Administration Department (GAD), shared this information with the Members of the J&K Legislative Assembly.
“The vacancies determined by the MHA for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 are 18, five and one,” the Chief Minister said responding to PDP MLA Mir Muhammad Fayaz.
About the reasons for the non-induction of JKAS into IAS over the last two years, the CM said, “The proposal for induction of JKAS officers to the IAS has been held up because the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) vide its order dated January 25, 2023, has set aside the seniority list of JKAS officers. This list was the basis for compiling the consideration zone of JKAS officers for induction into the IAS.”
He said that the J&K government had challenged the order of CAT before the High Court of J&K.
“The High Court, while hearing the case in the matter – WP (C) No 2772/2023 c/w WP (C) No 895/2023, WP (C) No 1182/2023 titled UT of J&K and Another versus Ghulam Nabi Itoo and Another, has reserved the judgement vide its order dated September 26, 2024,” he said.
The CM said that the department would be able to take up the matter regarding the induction of JKAS into IAS with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) only after the judgement, regarding the ongoing seniority dispute, is announced by the High Court.
Regarding the issue related to the need for taking the matter with the Government of India to restore the earlier J&K cadre of IAS instead of the present AGMUT cadre, he said, “At present, the erstwhile J&K cadre is now a part of joint AGMUT cadre.”
Regarding the issue raised by Peoples Conference (PC) MLA Sajad Gani Lone, related to increasing posts at the time scale and super time scale of JKAS for the career progression of direct recruits, the CM said that the cadre review of JKAS had been recently notified vide SRO 398 dated August 16, 2024.
It was pointed out that the cadre strength of the JKAS has been revised from 1040 to 1160 posts to ensure administrative efficiency which has also helped in providing adequate and reasonable opportunities for career progression for JKAS officers.
“Consequent upon this, 29 posts in the Super Time scale of JKAS, 171 posts in the Special scale, 300 posts in the Selection Grade and 500 posts in the Time scale of JKAS (250 in the junior scale of JKAS, 225 in the departmental feeding services and 25 technical quota) have been earmarked and resulted in the increase of 53 posts at the Time scale level, 31 posts at the Selection Grade level and 20 posts at the Special scale level,” the CM said.
“However, to streamline the career progression among the JKAS officers, a committee of officers has also been constituted under the chairmanship of Shaleen Kabra, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Jal Shakti Department,” he said.
