KL Report
SRINAGAR
Expressing anguish over non consideration of RBA category for State Level Eligibility Test for recruitment in Lecturers and Assistant Professors, aspirants belonging to backward areas of J&K state have decided to move court against the SET Examination notification issued by Kashmir University if amendment is not made in the notification in a week time. They have also demanded reducing fees from Rs 800 for applying in the same.
“A meeting of aspirants under the chairmanship of Zakir Malik resident of Bhallesa District Doda was held in Rajouri to discuss the issue of non inclusion of RBA category for SET examination. The meeting was attended by aspirants Rayaz Ahmed S/o Qamar Din R/o Raj Nagar Budhal , Jawaid Iqbal S/o Nizam-ud-Din R/o Kewal Raj Nagar , Fareed Ahmed S/o Qamar Din R/o Raj Nagar ,Aabid Hussain S/o Mohammad Yousaf R/o Kotli Kalaban, Aftab Zargar S/o Mushtaq Zargar R/o Neeli Bhallesa, District Doda, Parveen Akhter W/o Mohammad Mukhtar R/o Madhoon Darhal and various other aspirants belonging to Backward areas of the state,” aspirants said in a statement to a local news agency, KNS on Wednesday.
It was decided in the meeting to file a writ petition in the J&K High Court against the notification of SET issued by University of Kashmir but before this a week time has been given to the authorities to make amendments in the notification.
Speaking on the occasion, Zakir Malik has said that the Examination is State level and those who qualify it become eligible for Lecturers and Assistant Professors in Colleges and universities of J&K only. He said that even though it is applicable to state only, the authorities have shown discrimination with the aspirants belonging to backward areas of the state. He said ST, SC, OBC and handicapped category has been considered for the examination but RBA find no place in it which shows discrimination with the people of backward areas.
Expressing resentment over the attitude of government, aspirants said that Section 1.1 of SET Brochure has said that J&K Government has authorized Kashmir University to conduct this exam and how government can forget people belonging to backward area.
He also said that there is neither any relaxation in fee for applying nor any reservation for these candidates in selection. He said that this is injustice with the aspirants who have studied in schools lacking all basic amenities. “How people compare us with those who had received education in hi tech schools with all facilities,” he questioned adding that in state level examination, RBA must be considered.
It is pertinent to mention here that prior to 2002, the candidate who qualify this State Level Examination was considered eligible for Lecturers and Assistant Professors outside the state and at that time nobody has problem to appear in it according to the rules applied for National Level Examination but now the SET qualified candidates have been restricted to apply only in the state, let them give the benefit of RBA.
As per the brochure issued by Kashmir University, Section 1 (b) read “The candidates who have cleared SET prior to Ist June 2002, are excepted from appearing in NET, being eligible to apply for Lectureship anywhere in India. For SET held after Ist June 2002 onwards, the qualified candidates are eligible to apply only in the Universities / Colleges belonging to the State”. Section 1.5a of the brochure read “Such candidates as shall qualify Set, will be governed by the Rules and Regulations prescribed for the Universities / Colleges of J&K State Government”. Aspirants said that if the SET is applicable for this state, it is injustice if RBA category is not being considered for it.
The aspirants have also termed it violation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution which has granted special status to Jammu & Kashmir. The aspirants have also expressed anguish over huge fees fixed for applying in this examination. They said that even no concession has been made for the RBA candidates in fees.
