Administrative Council Reverses Decision, Restores Wait List Provisions for Government Recruitment

In a significant move aimed at streamlining the recruitment process and ensuring timely filling of vacancies, the Administrative Council, chaired by LG Manoj Sinha, convened on the 19th of February, 2024, to reconsider its earlier decision dated 07-09-2023. The council has approved the restoration of enabling provisions for drawing up wait lists in recruitment to public services in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision entails the withdrawal of amendments previously made to various recruitment rules, including the J&K Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment Rules, 2010, the Appointment of Class-IV (Special Recruitment) Rules, 2020, the J&K Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 2018, and business regulations of JKPSC/JKSSB, among others. This rollback, initiated through S.O 496, S.O. 497, and S.O. 498 of 2023, extends across all departments and services ab-initio.

Moreover, the council has granted a one-time exemption to recruiting agencies, allowing them to draw up wait lists within six months for select lists issued since the previous decision. However, this exemption is contingent upon the condition that such wait lists are compiled within the validity period of the select list and that resultant vacancies due to non-joining of selected candidates have not been re-advertised.

This decision is poised to facilitate the prompt filling of vacancies, thereby averting delays in re-referral of positions, reducing the time consumed in subsequent selections, and affording candidates the opportunity to secure employment before reaching the upper-age limit.

The move underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and transparency in the recruitment process, ultimately benefiting both aspiring candidates and the administration alike.