In a collective and unprecedented move, Junior Scale JKAS Officers from the batches of 2012-1, 2012-11, and 2013 have chosen to resign from their services, citing prolonged stagnation and administrative insensitivity from the General Administration Department.
The officers express deep concern over the lack of career progression since qualifying for the prestigious examination over 12 years ago.
Astonishingly, no officer from these batches has been promoted to the time scale of JKAS.
“It is a matter of great concern that after qualifying the so called prestigious examination more than 12 years ago, not a single officer from the above said
batches has been promoted to the time scale of JKAS,” an official communication with Kashmir Despatch reads.
Meanwhile, individuals appointed to roles such as Orderlies, Junior Assistants, Junior Stenographers, Industrial Promotion Officers, and Labour Officers, with more than five promotions, have ascended to the JKAS Time Scale, superseding the officers from the mentioned batches.
Adding to the irony, former subordinates like Head Assistants, Section Officers, IPOs, Labour Officers, and ICDS Supervisors, whose performances were once reviewed by the Junior Scale JKAS Officers, now find themselves in positions of authority, evaluating the performance of their erstwhile superiors.
The General Administration Department, allegedly indifferent to this upheaval, has drawn criticism for its perceived collaboration.
The situation has caused widespread anxiety and depression among affected officers, with reports of some developing suicidal tendencies.
Officers point out that candidates who failed the JKAS examination and pursued other services like Law/Planning have achieved more than three promotions within 11 years, reaching positions equivalent to Additional Secretaries. In contrast, successful JKAS candidates now find themselves subordinate to those who initially failed the same examination.
As a response to this disheartening state of affairs, the resigning officers have collectively decided to prepare for non-gazetted level examinations, seeking promotion avenues to the Time Scale of JKAS through alternative channels.
