SRINAGAR, February 7: Terming the decision of abolition of J&K Cadre of Civil Services as unwarranted and arbitrary, former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday demanded that the decision be rolled back in light of the promises of restoration of Statehood made by the Country’s Prime Minister on the floor of Parliament.
Bukhari also expressed strong reservations on doing away with five years age relaxation granted to Jammu and Kashmir youth in the Civil Services examinations. “The decision of abolition of J&K Cadre and doing away with the five years age relaxation are capricious and have come as a shocker for the people of Jammu and Kashmir especially its aspirants for Civil Services careers,” Bukhari remarked.
The former finance minister observed that these decisions are confusing and make no sense because at the time of temporary conversion of J&K from State to Union Territory, the Central Government had assured there will be no fiddling with the J&K Cadre.
“These decisions seem to have been taken without proper application of mind. Not only the sanctity of Caderization of Civil Services has been put to a question mark but the decision to abolish J&K Cadre will be a strong factor for demotivation of J&K youth who aspire to join the prestigious civil services in the country,” he opined.
Bukhari observed that the five years age relaxation was granted by the government of India to J&K civil service aspirants because of topography, inclement climatic conditions and the hostile security scenario in Kashmir Valley.
“However, the contenders from all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir were equally benefitted by this special provision of age relaxation. Doing away with this advantage has not only brought cynicism among them but has also disillusioned thousands of J&K students who have gone outside State for coaching, thereby wasting their precious time and resources,” he added.
The former finance minister demanded immediate review of these decisions in the larger interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir especially its huge number of qualified, unemployed youth.
“The status of Jammu and Kashmir may have changed from a State to Union territory but unfortunately there is no marked change on the ground situation so far. These hostile decisions are bound to alienate our aspiring youth further,” Bukhari observed, while appealing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister to intervene into the matter and ask the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to revoke its decisions without any delay.
He said that the civil service aspirants of Jammu and Kashmir appear in the examination conducted through UPSC after facing tremendous hardships including inclement weather, intimidating security situation and frequent internet shutdowns. “Our youth have always braved all odds with a hope that they will get a chance to prove their mettle in the prestigious civil service examinations. That hope, trust and confidence of our students need to be restored by the leadership of our country,” he advocated.
