SRINAGAR: Raising alarm over prolonged vacancies in top engineering posts, the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Engineering Graduates Association (JK CEGA) has urged the Establishment-cum-Selection Committee (EcSC) to grant early approval for filling all vacant Chief Engineer (CE) positions in the Jal Shakti Department in accordance with cabinet-sanctioned service relaxations.
In a press statement issued from Srinagar, JK CEGA expressed serious concern over the delay in appointments to key Head of Department (HoD) roles, particularly Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control Kashmir, Chief Engineer UEED J&K, and Chief Engineer RTIC Jammu. The association also noted pending vacancies in J&K Power Development Corporation.
The engineers’ body has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, urging them to ensure prompt concurrence of the pending file in the EcSC.
Citing the ongoing peak irrigation season, prevailing heatwave, and the approaching monsoon, the association highlighted that the absence of a Chief Engineer in Irrigation & Flood Control Kashmir poses serious administrative and operational challenges. It also flagged delays in Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) projects due to a leadership vacuum.
The JK CEGA pointed to a cabinet-approved relaxation, which was issued vide Government Order No. 94-JK (JSD) of 2025 dated 02.04.2025, reducing the qualifying service to 18 years of gazetted service for CE posts and 15 years for Superintending Engineer (SE) posts, as a measure to address the shortage of eligible candidates.
“Despite the availability of qualified candidates who meet the revised eligibility criteria, and some of whom are due to retire in the near future, the Establishment Cum Selection Committee has failed to assent the file, causing an unwarranted delay,” the statement read.
The association warned that continued inaction may adversely affect departmental performance and urged the government to expedite the clearance of appointments to ensure essential services and infrastructure projects are not further disrupted.
