SRINAGAR: Following the recent induction of 27 JKPS officers into IPS last week, the path is now nearly clear for the induction of 24 JKAS officers into IAS, The Excelsior reported. The Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) and Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) had raised some queries, but the Jammu and Kashmir administration has responded to them, and a meeting is anticipated soon.
“The process of inducting 24 JKAS officers into IAS is in its final stages, overseen by the General Administration Department (GAD). Meetings have been held, and the officers’ names have been finalised. All queries from UPSC and DoPT have been addressed,” officials told The Excelsior.
A meeting is now expected to take place in New Delhi shortly.
This marks the second consecutive year that JKAS officers will be inducted into IAS. On August 4, 2022, 16 JKAS officers were inducted into IAS. Initially, 28 JKAS officers were cleared for induction on July 8, 2022, but 11 of them were subsequently excluded. Eight had retired from service, two declined induction, and one had passed away, while the fate of another was kept confidential.
Eleven positions were later declared vacant, while 13 positions were available for induction, bringing the total number of vacancies to 24. These vacancies will be filled once UPSC and DoPT grant final approval during their meeting with the UT administration.
All JKAS officers selected for induction into IAS are from the 1999 batch, according to officials.
Sources of The Excelsior have indicated that there were initially 41 pending positions for the induction of JKAS officers into IAS. These positions will all be filled following the induction of the 24 JKAS officers.
“One position remains in dispute as the fate of a JKAS officer is pending due to an ongoing inquiry,” officials said.
These inductions, officials say, will address the shortage of IAS officers in Jammu and Kashmir and fill vacancies in middle-ranking IAS officer positions.
Inducting JKAS officers into IAS had not occurred for nearly 12 years due to seniority disputes and legal hurdles.
The 1999 JKAS batch had to wait for 23 years for their induction into IAS. The government now plans to make this a regular annual occurrence, ensuring timely induction into IAS for JKAS officers, in line with other states and union territories, rather than after a 12-year gap, as was the case in Jammu and Kashmir in the past.
In addition to benefiting JKAS officers, their induction into IAS will help the Jammu and Kashmir Government fill some vacancies in the Union Territory. It’s worth noting that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed several All India Services officers on deputation for two to three years in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh due to the shortage of IAS officers.
Sources of The Excelsior suggest that JKAS officers being inducted into IAS will be part of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territories) cadre.
The 1999 JKAS batch is the major beneficiary of these inductions, but the way has also been cleared for future batches of JKAS officers to be inducted at a later stage.
Presently, numerous All India Services (AIS) officers have been assigned to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after the erstwhile state became part of the AGMUT cadre following the abrogation of special status on August 5, 2019. However, many officers from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre have also been posted outside the region or have taken Central deputation roles.
