SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said 38,872 posts are vacant across various departments, even as its committee examining the regularisation of casual, seasonal, contractual and other temporary workers continues to deliberate on the issue.
The figures were disclosed in the Government’s reply to a starred question raised by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone in the J&K Legislative Assembly. The vacancies comprise 3,318 Gazetted, 24,427 Non-Gazetted and 11,127 Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) posts.
The Government said the committee constituted through Government Order No. 384-JK(GAD) of 2025 dated March 19, 2025 is examining the issue of regularisation of casual, seasonal and other temporary, contractual and need-based workers engaged in different departments across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the reply, the committee has been asked to examine the humanitarian, legal and financial aspects of the issue. The Government said the workers represent diverse categories and were engaged at different points of time under varying terms and conditions, making it necessary to formulate a uniform framework.
The proposed policy, it said, would have to conform to applicable statutory provisions, the prevailing legal position and the prescribed recruitment framework while also accounting for the financial implications of any decision.
The Government said the committee was undertaking a comprehensive examination aimed at formulating a framework that is legally enforceable and administratively implementable across departments.
“Consultations with the concerned departments and examination of the issues from administrative, legal and financial perspectives are required before a final policy decision is taken,” the Government said, adding that a considered decision would be taken after completion of the examination and receipt of the requisite inputs from departments and authorities.
Health, R&B among departments with large vacancies
The department-wise vacancy figures show that the Health and Medical Education Department has 12,797 vacant posts, including 2,125 Gazetted, 8,064 Non-Gazetted and 2,608 MTS posts.
The Agriculture Production, Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Horticulture sector has 4,939 vacancies, comprising 84 Gazetted, 1,925 Non-Gazetted and 2,930 MTS posts.
The Public Works (R&B) Department has 2,190 vacancies, including 770 Non-Gazetted and 1,420 MTS posts, while Finance has 1,829 vacancies—125 Gazetted, 1,565 Non-Gazetted and 139 MTS.
The Forest, Ecology and Environment Department has 1,619 vacancies, including 31 Gazetted and 1,588 Non-Gazetted posts.
Other departments with significant vacancies include Industries and Commerce (1,787), School Education (1,364), Youth Services and Sports (1,369), Power Development (1,264), Housing and Urban Development (941), Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (836), and Cooperative (268).
The Government’s department-wise data covers 38 departments/agencies, with the overall vacancy figure standing at 38,872.
2,150 posts referred to JKPSC
The Government said 2,150 posts had been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) during the last two years.
Of these, 794 posts were from Health and Medical Education, 594 from School Education, 286 from Higher Education, 183 from Animal and Sheep Husbandry, 170 from the General Administration Department and 67 from Home.
The remaining posts included 42 from Law, 12 from Skill Development, one each from ARI & Trainings and Floriculture, besides the other departments listed in the annexure.
11,582 posts referred to JKSSB in 2024
The Government said departments referred 11,582 posts to the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) during 2024.
The Home Department accounted for 9,360 posts, followed by Health and Medical Education with 462, Jal Shakti with 314, Power Development with 292, Industries and Commerce with 222, Agriculture/Animal Husbandry with 229 and Public Works Department with 177.
Posts were also referred from Cooperative, Floriculture, Forest, Higher Education, Labour and Employment, Law, Revenue, Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Transport departments.
The Government clarified that the 11,582 figure also includes posts earlier referred to JKSSB but subsequently returned to departments following the issuance of S.O. 176 of 2024 dated March 15, 2024.
6,340 posts referred to JKSSB in 2025
During 2025, 6,340 posts were referred to JKSSB.
The largest number came from the Home Department at 2,766, followed by Finance with 1,217, General Administration Department with 869 and Health and Medical Education with 610.
Other referrals included 367 posts from Jal Shakti, 94 from Agriculture Production, 86 from Transport, 60 from ARI and Trainings, 56 from Geology and Mining, 47 from Tourism, 36 from Social Welfare, 22 from the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, 21 from Higher Education, 19 from DMRRR, 18 from Cooperative, 17 each from Culture and Labour and Employment, nine from Law, six from Science and Technology and three from Information.
Government says vacancies being filled through time-bound process
On steps being taken to fill vacant posts, the Government said it had undertaken measures including timely identification and referral of vacancies to recruiting agencies, advance planning of recruitment cycles and monitoring of recruitment timelines.
It said efforts were also being made to streamline procedures, strengthen coordination with recruiting agencies and leverage technology to expedite recruitment while maintaining transparency, fairness and merit.
The Government further said directions had been issued to departments for timely referral of vacancies falling under the direct recruitment quota to recruiting agencies under SRO-166 of 2005 dated June 14, 2005, and Circular No. 01-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated January 1, 2024.
Temporary workers being paid notified minimum wages
On whether temporary employees, including daily-rated workers, were being paid according to minimum wage rates, the Government said various departments had engaged daily-rated workers and other categories according to their operational requirements.
It said wages were being paid in accordance with the guidelines and terms and conditions governing their engagement, adding that in the case of daily-rated workers and casual/seasonal labourers, wages were being paid as per the minimum wages notified by the Government.
