J-K specifies maximum qualification limit for Class IV jobs as applications pile up

The decision, sources said, was motivated by the fact that even highly qualified candidates, including technocrats, were applying for lower-category jobs in view of the ever increasing unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.

The GAD notification says that an order to this effect had been passed by Governor Lt Gen (retired) S K Sinha, in exercise of the powers conferred to him by Section 124 of the Jammu-Kashmir Constitution and in supersession of all the rules and orders pertaining to the recruitment of Class IV posts.

Explaining its dilemma in case of a high number of applications from those over-qualified for the job, a senior officer said: “If we select them, it is difficult to make them work, say, as orderlies. However, in case of recruitment of less qualified ones, those with higher qualification can go to court.”

Though exact details about the number of unemployed in the militancy-ridden state are missing, rough estimates put the number of the educated ones seeking jobs at over five lakh. Even engineering graduates have been holding a dharna for the last one year asking Government to provide them jobs on the pattern of the Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers at just Rs 1,500 per month.

In the absence of industry or corporate houses, it is the Government that continues to be the main source of employment for the people.

For just 900 Class IV vacancies across the state, nearly four lakh candidates submitted their applications earlier this year. A sizeable number of candidates were graduates, but even post-graduates and those holding MPhils applied.

Commissioner-Secretary, General Administration Department, Basharat Ahmad Dhar said the dilemma of who to pick was even delaying recruitment.

Despite the district- and division-level committees set up to expedite the process, Dhar said district development commissioners often write to them seeking advice on how to deal with the over-qualified candidates.