SRINAGAR: Aspirants of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) have expressed serious concerns over the alleged misinterpretation of the “Reserve List” provision by the Commission, claiming it is being treated as a “waiting list.”
The aspirants pointed to the rules outlined in the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination (JKCCE) Rules, 2018, amended by S.O. 61 on February 23, 2021.
They alleged that the Reserve List, which is meant to serve as a supplementary list for candidates ranked just below those recommended for final selection, is being wrongly applied as a waiting list.
“This misinterpretation has raised concerns about transparency and efficiency in the selection process,” one of the aspirants said.
Unlike a waiting list, which addresses unfilled vacancies, the Reserve List is designed to accommodate category shifts during service allocation while ensuring merit-based selections, they added.
Despite repeated representations by candidates and clarifications from the General Administration Department (JKGAD), the aspirants claim that JKPSC continues to misuse the Reserve List provision.
A recent JKGAD order (No. 1826-JK(GAD) of 2024, dated October 24, 2024) explicitly stated that the JKCCE 2018 rules do not provide for a waiting list. This, they argue, underscores JKPSC’s failure to adhere to the proper implementation of the Reserve List.
The aspirants criticised the Commission for creating confusion and denying deserving candidates their rightful opportunities. They further stated that such administrative lapses erode trust in the system and compromise meritocratic principles.
Calling it a “systemic issue,” the affected candidates urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and ensure that all vacancies are filled fairly and efficiently based on merit. (KNO)
