JAMMU: In a major move aimed at efficient cadre management, the Jal Shakti Department issued regularization orders of 396 engineers in various ranks here yesterday, with another 411 in the pipeline pending essential clearances.
“Many of those who benefited from the resultant pay fixation are retired officers who had been drawing pensions in lower ranks. Since September 2022, 1969 engineers have been regularized, promoted and recommended, right from the rank of Junior Engineer to Superintendent Engineer. Officers had been working in incharge capacity, i.e. on an ad-hoc basis, for years together, without substantive promotions. In many cases, the regularization has taken place after more than twenty-two years of ad-hoc placement,” said a government official.
“The proactive and transparent processes steered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) have enabled the department to address these long-pending issues. The recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee in the PSC has resulted in orders of promotion of 70 Executive Engineers to Superintending Engineers, 129 Assistant Executive Engineers to Executive Engineers, 415 Assistant Engineers to the role of Assistant Executive Engineers and 665 Junior Engineers to Assistant Engineers while another 690 officers have been cleared subject to essential clearances which are in process,” the official said.
“Also, in another first, since September 2022, the department has strived to man all the posts in the department with competent officers by timely posting and placement of 19 I/c Chief Engineers, 28 I/c Superintending Engineers, 56 I/c Executive Engineers,” he said.
“Further, the department has made concerted efforts to issue seniority lists at various ranks to bring transparency and stability while assuring career progression-free of favouritism. The final seniority lists have been issued in respect of Superintending Engineers [G.O. No. 10-JK(JSD) of 2023 dated 25.01.2023], Assistant Engineers (Degree Holders) [G.O. No. 233-JK(JSD) of 2023 dated 27.09.2023] and Assistant Engineers (Diploma Holders) [G.O. No. 234-JK(JSD) of 2023 dated 27.09.2023] while tentative seniority list have been issued in respect of Assistant Executive Engineers (Degree Holders) [Circular No. 08-JK(JSD) of 2023 dated 06.10.2023], Executive Engineers (Degree Holders) [Circular No. 09-JK(JSD) of 2023 dated 06.10.2023] and Assistant Executive Engineers (Diploma Holders) [Circular No. 10-JK(JSD) of 2023 dated 06.10.2023],” he added.
The further said: “The resolution of the regularization matters will pave the way for smooth career progression of the Engineering cadre i.e. from the level of Junior Engineer to Chief Engineer. This has been possible only due to the visionary leadership of Lieutenant Governor, J&K. The directions of the Chief Secretary and encouragement of the Advisor to Lieutenant Governor have been critical to the entire process.”
“Most of all, it has been the unstinted support and guidance by Satish Chandra, Chairman of the Public Service Commission and Zubair Ahmad Raza (Member PSC & Chairman DPC, JSD) that has made the difference; that too despite the extreme preoccupation with the ongoing time bound recruitments. This has enabled the department headed by Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary to work tirelessly to address these service matters,” he said.
“These measures have enabled the department to rise to the challenges of execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship scheme of the Government of India that envisages providing safe and adequate drinking water, @ 55 LPCD of BIS 10500 quality to every rural household, numbering 18.67 Lakh in J&K. Jal Shakti Department is committed to cater to the requirements of the inhabitants of the UT of J&K through its dedicated officials,” he added.
