SRINAGAR: Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Friday reviewed human resource management (HRM) issues in the School Education Department, directing officials to expedite pending cases related to seniority, promotions, recruitment and regularisation.
Chairing a meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Itoo stressed the need for time-bound disposal of service-related matters and called for greater coordination among authorities to avoid delays affecting employees.
According to officials, the department has finalised seniority lists of 21,323 postgraduate masters and postgraduate teachers across 32 disciplines during the past year. Seniority lists for four remaining disciplines are under preparation. The final seniority list of 3,509 headmasters and equivalent posts has also been issued.
The meeting was informed that 197 postgraduate masters and teachers have been placed as in-charge lecturers, while 672 other officials have been given placements against higher posts, including principals as in-charge chief education officers, headmasters as in-charge zonal education officers and masters as in-charge headmasters.
In total, 869 placements have been made against higher posts. Consideration zones have also been prepared for 988 postgraduate masters and teachers for placement as in-charge lecturers, while another 150 officials are under consideration for higher positions.
Reviewing promotion matters, officials informed the minister that Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) proceedings had previously been completed for 10 of 36 subjects and disciplines. Cases relating to the remaining 26 disciplines, involving around 2,000 placements, are yet to be considered.
The minister was also informed that 53 employees from various cadres and disciplines have been regularised during the past two years.
On recruitment, officials said that out of 594 lecturer vacancies in 27 disciplines referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), selections for 586 posts have been received. Appointment orders have been issued to 291 candidates, while cases of another 213 selected candidates are being processed after receipt of verification reports.
The department has also initiated a fresh exercise to identify lecturer vacancies for referral to the JKPSC.
The meeting reviewed the ongoing revision of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules and subordinate service recruitment rules. Officials said the draft gazetted rules have been circulated to heads of departments for comments before being sent for statutory clearances.
The minister also reviewed a proposal regarding utilisation of teacher vacancies arising from promotions and retirements. Officials said a proposal to use 50 per cent of Graduate Teacher (GLT) vacancies for fresh recruitment is being re-examined in light of observations made by the Finance Department.
The meeting was informed that a one-time exemption for higher qualifications obtained through distance or online mode has been granted to 14,966 employees, including 7,377 in Jammu division and 7,589 in Kashmir division.
Itoo directed officials to prioritise pending HRM matters and ensure regular monitoring of seniority, promotion, recruitment and regularisation cases to strengthen administrative and academic functioning in the department.
