JAMMU : Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC), while contesting a news report appearing in a section of press regarding the delay in job recruitment advertised by the corporation, has said that the government has recalled the selection process for reasons of lack of transparency, reads a communiqué issued by DIPR-JK.
The communiqué is produced verbatim below:
The JKRTC faced huge dearth of employees of different categories and the sharp decline in number of employees was a result of introduction of VRS/GHS retirement scheme in the Year-2008 together with natural retirement of employees in proceeding years. To fill the gap of available vacancies, the issue was ratified by Board of Directors of JKRTC and after threadbare discussion, the members allowed to complete the exercise of employment in 74th meeting of Board of Directors held on 11.08.2016 and vide Agenda item No. 74.11, it was resolved that: “It was resolved that Managing Director JKRTC shall fill up the vacant posts on need basis after proper advertisement & by following due procedure required under rules.”
Immediately after receiving nod from Board of Directors, the JKSRTC issued advertisement for filling of different category of posts (detailed below) to overcome the difficult situation faced by the Corporation due to in-sufficient staff in these fields. In response to the advertisement Notice No. 1121/2016 dated 29.10.2016, the Corporation in both the regions received sufficient no. of application forms indicated against each posts.
However, owing to financial crisis facing JKRTC, it was felt appropriate to engage available posts on consolidated basis and the matter was accordingly examined by the Administrative Secretariat Transport Department and a detailed note identifying mode of selection through private recruiting agency was made which was approved by the Chairman, JKRTC/Minister. The original text of approval reads that:
JKRTC is a corporate body which can recruit staff independently as per their Recruitment Rules and methods devised by Board of Directors. For facilitation in the recruitment process, it can hire any agency which is dealing in such services. J&K RTC can hire the services of LMES or any other agency for bringing in efficiency in the recruitment process. SSRB and JKPSC who are the recruitment agencies of the State are also hiring the services of such agencies for bringing in transparency and speedier mechanism in the recruitment process.”
Consequent to approval of Chairman, JKSRTC vide dated: 24.11.2017 the earlier advertisement notice No. 1121/2016 dated 29.10.2016 was withdrawn vide order No. JKSRTC/MD/PS/119-A dated 18.04.2018 and thereafter fresh online applications were invited vide notice No. JKSRTC/MD/PS/121 dated 19.04.2018 for engagement of eligible candidates against the advertised posts on contractual basis in supersession to previous advertisement notice with the directions to the aspirants who had earlier applied for the different category of posts advertised vide Notice No. 1121/2016 dated 29.10.2016 to collect their demand drafts enclosed with the application forms from the office of General Managers JKRTC Headquarters Srinagar/ Jammu. The posts re-advertised are:
To ensure transparency in the process of selection of candidates, M/SLMES – IT was engaged as per the guidelines contained in office note of Administrative Secretariat and thereafter formal order was issued vide No. JKRTC/GMA/PS/92 dated 09.05.2018. The said recruiting agency in lines with prescribed criteria contained in advertisement notice conducted physical and driving test of drivers and also written examination of other candidates who applied for the posts other than driver was accomplished. The said recruiting agency after completing the entire exercise in phased manner subsequently uploaded the shortlist of all categories of posts and was shortly going to conduct physical test of these candidates to conclude the final selection of list eligible candidates.
In the meanwhile, a meeting comprising senior officers of State was held on 26.11.2018 in the office of Principal Secretary Transport Department in his office chamber Civil Secretariat Jammu. The members present in the meeting took decision on various issues including the issue of recruitment advertised by JKRTC. The minutes of the said meeting was circulated vide No. TR/14/Admn/2018 dated nil and in the said minutes of meeting under title “JKRTC” the decision on issue of recruitment vide S.No.5 reads that: “Complaints are galore about the ambiguity in publicity & receipts of job applications by SRTC. MD SRTC may issue fresh note for recruitment of 270 (drivers/conductors/Mechanics) in consultation with Administrative Department.”
The issue of recalling of recruitment in the wake of minutes of meeting was discussed at JKRTC Headquarter Srinagar and the communication was addressed to Principal Secretary, Transport Department vide No. JKRTC/MD/PS/64 dated 23.02.2019 and it has been mentioned in the concluding para of letter suggesting therein for cancellation of recruitment of advertised posts.
Since the official nod for conduct of recruitment was allowed by Administrative Secretariat, therefore, to close the recruitment and get it cancelled, the issue was assailed before Commissioner/Secretary Transport Department and with the approval of Advisor (B) to Lieutenant Governor (Chairman, JKRTC) the recruitment notice advertised vide No. JKSRTC/MD/PS/121 Dated 19.04.2018 was recalled and cancelled vide order No JKRTC/MD/PS/186 Dated: 24.08.2020 and the recruitment lacking element of transparency could not be continued and therefore have justified reason to cancel recruitment.
