Several KAS Officers in J&K Mulling Mass Resignation

Several KAS Officers in J&K Mulling Mass Resignation

Srinagar, March 3: A growing sense of discontent is brewing among junior Jammu Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) officers, as they ponder mass resignations in response to prolonged career stagnation and perceived negligence from the government in addressing their advancement concerns.

In a joint statement shared with Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir Dot Com, junior scale JKAS officers from the 2012 and 2013 batches expressed their frustration and intention to collectively tender their resignations next week.

Citing persistent stagnation and administrative apathy from the General Administration Department towards their career progression, these officers highlighted their grievances.

Despite having qualified for the prestigious examination over a decade ago, officers from these batches lament the lack of promotions to the esteemed JKAS Time Scale. They voiced their dismay over witnessing colleagues in lower positions, such as Orderlies and Junior Assistants, swiftly climbing the promotional ladder and achieving the JKAS Time Scale after just five advancements.

Speaking anonymously to Kashmir Dot Com, one of the affected officers emphasized the prolonged neglect, stating, “I joined as Under Secretary in 2013, and to this day, I remain in the same position. It has been a decade, and our concerns have fallen on deaf ears.”

The officers also highlighted the disheartening disparity where law officers recruited in 2012 are poised to enter JKAS this year, exacerbating their frustration.

Calling for urgent action, the officers urged the government to create additional posts to address the longstanding issue and ensure equitable career progression for JKAS officers.

They voiced concerns over the emerging trend of former subordinates, including Head Assistants and Section Officers, assuming leadership roles, leaving junior JKAS officers feeling marginalized.

Furthermore, they expressed distress over seeing candidates who failed the JKAS examination and opted for alternative services surpass their qualified counterparts, securing multiple promotions within a shorter timeframe.

In response to the challenging environment within the General Administration Department, the junior JKAS officers of the 2012-1, 2012-II, and 2013 Batches have resolved to prepare for Non-Gazetted level examinations, aiming to create promotion avenues to the JKAS Time Scale within the existing operational framework of the GAD.