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23 JKAS officers likely to be inducted into IAS after 4-year gap
Jammu: The long-awaited induction of 23 officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is nearing completion, with the final selection committee meeting likely to be held later this month.
According to official sources, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has nominated one of its members to chair the selection panel for Jammu and Kashmir. The committee will also comprise senior Union Territory officials, including the Chief Secretary, an Additional Chief Secretary, and the Administrative Secretary of the General Administration Department.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has formally referred 23 vacancies-relating to the years 2019 and 2020-to the UPSC. The crucial meeting is expected to take place in Jammu by the end of April, where final decisions on the inductions will be made.
This development comes after a gap of nearly four years. The last induction took place on August 4, 2022, when 16 JKAS officers were elevated to the IAS. The process had faced significant delays due to prolonged legal disputes and seniority-related issues.
Officials indicate that the remaining legal concerns are unlikely to hinder the current process. The matters have already been communicated to the UPSC, and a resolution is expected during the meeting. Authorities may proceed with inductions subject to court outcomes or reserve certain positions, if required.
Most of the officers expected to be inducted belong to the 1999 batch and will be allocated to the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre. Many of these officers have been awaiting elevation for over two decades.
Earlier, on July 8, 2022, 28 officers were cleared for induction; however, only 16 were ultimately appointed. Of the remaining candidates, eight had retired, two declined the offer, one passed away, and one case was placed under sealed cover.
The induction process had remained stalled for nearly 12 years between 2010 and 2022 due to litigation and disputes over seniority.
Officials further noted that once the current vacancies are filled, the administration will begin identifying vacancies for subsequent years. The government is also considering institutionalizing the induction process as an annual exercise to ensure timely career progression, aligning with practices followed in other states and Union Territories.
