Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 20: With retirement of at least five IAS officers and 11 J&K Cadre top babus already on central deputation recently, the Jammu and Kashmir government is facing severe shortage of IAS officers.
Official sources told that several bureaucrats have been burdened with multiple responsibilities, seriously hampering the governance. "The state is facing a severe shortage of IAS officers. As of now, the fixed strength of IAS officials in the state is 137 against availability of 84 officers. Out of in position 84 officers, 11, including Braj Raj Sharma, Suresh Kumar, P K Tripathi, Sudhanshu Panday, Atal Dulloo, Shantmanu, Bipul Pathak, Ashok Kumar Parmar, Manoj Kumar Dwiwedi, Mandeep Kaur and Yasha Mudgal are serving in key departments of Union Government," one of the top officials of the government told wishing anonymity.
Sources said that surprisingly in some government departments, ineligible officers are holding top posts. The sources said that the functioning of some departments suffers more due to fewer visits of officers holding additional charges. "The situation is so bad that officers often find themselves in a piquant situation because of two ministers calling meetings on the same date and at the same time," sources maintained.
Meanwhile, government is considering to raise the issue with the Centre for amendment in service rules of IAS officers in the state. "Government is considering to make amendment in service rules of IAS officers. Presently, an IAS officer is posted as secretary only if he has 13 years of service. But government is considering to truncate this period to 9 years" an official of the General Administration Department, said. "The J&K government has sought return of all IAS officers of JK cadre from the centre, but the central government has so far given a cold response," he added.
Union Minister of State In-charge DoPT, Dr Jitendra Singh recently said that Centre was trying to persuade the cadre officers to return to their states. "Even if they are unwilling, we try to motivate them. We encourage the cadre officers to revert to their states and serve the people," he had said.
It is to mention here that recently citing a shortage of IAS bureaucrats at the middle-level, the Narendra Modi government has asked all states to spare more officers for central deputation.
In a letter to all states, including Jammu and Kashmir, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said the movement of the officers from states to the Centre and back is crucial for building capabilities at the state-level and contributing towards developing national perspectives at the decision-making levels in the government of India. |
