J&K starts clearing backlog of vacancies pending since 2008

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has set the process in motion to clear a backlog of vacancies that are pending since 2008 in various departments of the state for which about three lakh candidates have applied.

"There was a backlog of about 4,500 posts pending with the Service Selection Board (SSB) since the year 2008. The Board has decided to clear the backlog and has set a process in motion to appoint meritorious candidates in various departments in a time-bound manner," Secretary, SSB, Shabir Ahmad Raina, told reporters here.

Raina said the SSB started conducting the recruitment exams for these posts yesterday and the whole process would be completed in four months.

"There are more than four lakh aspirants for these posts. However, there are court interventions in some categories of posts for which we cannot take the examination. The rest of about three lakh aspirants will take part in these exams over two months and the whole process will be completed in three-four months," he said.

He said these vacancies are pending since 2008 under various notifications issued by the board.

"Some of these posts were advertised in 2008. The board has issued 908 notifications for these posts over the years and exams will be conducted for all these notifications issued till June 13 this year," he said.

He said there were clear directions from the government to clear the backlog and then complete recruitment for nearly 4,000 other posts on fast-track basis.