JKATA demands uniform criteria for DPC promotion

29 March 2022

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Srinagar, Mar 29: Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Technocrats Association (JKATA) has demanded uniform and convincing criteria for DPC promotion of all agriculture department employees.

In a statement issued to Ziraat Times, the association said that a meeting was held in which issues pertaining to immediate promotions through DPCs for Gazetted employees; inclusion of regularized Rehbar-e-ZIrat employees in the old pension scheme and other allied and ancillary issues were deliberated upon.

While addressing meeting, President, JKATA, Dr Surinder Radotra said primarily the Association represents all Junior Agriculture Extension Officers (JAEOs) and Agriculture Extension Officers (AEAs) of the department also working as AEA since 2014 and recently in July has been elevated to the position of JAEO in incharge capacity.

“After confirmation of 147 employees substantively as JAEOs, nearly 285 AEAs in both regions (Kashmir & Jammu each) were elevated as JAEOs but on in charge basis.These JAEOs (incharge) may be confirmed as JAEOs substantively with retrospective effect to be determined from the due date i.e the date of confirmation of above referred 147 JAEOs.”

“The date of confirmation is April 2017.They further requested that a common seniority list at U.T Level (as per regularized/ Date of confirmation as AEA,s,2014, 2015,2016) may be prepared and notified in a time bound manner for the purposes of promoting JAEOs to the post of AEOs,” the statement reads.

Dr Radotra demanded that SRO 442 dated 23.10.2017 may be amended to provide as follows: In Schedule II Class B (II), 25% quota for promotion to the post of JAEO from Class IV; Category B with BAT having 3 Years of Substantive service may be abolished and promotions to the post of JAEO may be made 100% by promotion from Class IV, Category A (Graduates).

These 25% quota holders are either under metric or just matriculates having no technical know-how. The Post of JAEO is a technical post and that the Gazetted Employees of the Department may be provided. The Gazetted Agriculture Officers are also suffering due to prolonged stagnation in department as Government has failed to conduct DPC of gazetted officers since framing of J& K Agriculture Gazetted Service Rules in 1988 as officers are retiring at their entry level pay scale even after rendering 30- 35 years of regular service in the department. Due to non-conductance of DPC many Gazetted Agriculture Officers ‘got no promotion in lifetime” & retired on the entry level posts.

The agriculture professionals are serving in this vital agriculture which is main source of livelihood for rural people. The Gazetted Agriculture Officers are also facing humiliation and issue of stagnation may also be resolved by finalizing seniorities and conducting DPCs which have not happened since 1988.

Dr Radotra observed that those JAEOs who have been categorized as Senior JAEOs are also awaiting conduct of their DPCs and furthers promotions to the posts of AEOs on the basis of 2018 final Seniority lists. These are appointees of 1995, around 87 in number in the department. Their DPC may also be conducted within a reasonable period of time.He said promotion quota under SRO 433 for the post of AEO may be maintained at same levels i.e. 80% from Departmental Promotions and 20% from direct recruitment. No amendments disturbing the quota may be given effect to.

Dr Radotra said that on account of the fact that regularized AEAs were initially recruited in the year 2007 and completed 3 years of their service in the year 2010, they are entitled for grant of pension under the Old Pension Scheme in terms of provisions of amended SRO-400 dated 24-12-2009.

“Therefore, we may be immediately shifted from the New Pension Scheme to the scheme of Old Pension. Similar benefits were given to the teachers recruited under the ‘Rehbar-e-Taleem Scheme’.”

Dr Surinder Radotra appealed Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Arun K Mehta and Principal Secretary APD Navin K Choudhary, Director Agriculture Jammu Division and Director Agriculture Kashmir Division to personally intervene and address genuine grievances of agriculture officers (Gazetted/ non gazetted) on top priority basis