Naib Tehsildar recruitment: Altaf Bukhari, Sajad Lone criticise only 30 open merit posts out of 75

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board’s (JKSSB) recent notification inviting applications for 75 Naib Tehsildar posts has sparked political criticism and renewed debate over the existing reservation policy in government recruitment.

Prominent regional leaders, including Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari and People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone, have voiced concern over what they see as an imbalance between open merit and reserved category seats, arguing for a more equitable and merit-based approach.

According to the official notification, only 30 out of the 75 posts have been allocated for open merit candidates, with the remaining 45 reserved for various categories under Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation rules.

Taking to social media, Altaf Bukhari expressed disappointment, calling for a reform of the reservation system.

“This has once again left many people disappointed — and rightly so. I have said it before and I will say it again: we need a judicious mechanism for reservations to protect merit,” Bukhari stated.
He further added that, in his view, reservations should be based solely on economic criteria, not social or other categories, a stance that has been part of his party’s broader political plank.

Echoing similar concerns, People’s Conference chairman and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone criticized the government for moving forward with the recruitment drive despite the ongoing review by a sub-committee on reservation policy.

“Yet another recruitment advertisement is out. And 30 seats for open merit compared to 45 reserved. If government is serious about a change they would have waited for the sub-committee report. They haven’t. And I am not surprised,” Lone remarked.

The criticism from both leaders signals rising political and public unease with the current reservation framework, which some see as out of sync with the demand for merit-driven and economically targeted affirmative action.

While reservation policies in Jammu and Kashmir have traditionally aimed to address historical and social disadvantages, recent years have seen growing calls for re-evaluation, especially in the wake of altered political and administrative structures post-August 2019.

Government officials have not yet responded publicly to the remarks by Bukhari and Lone. However, sources within the administration say that the reservation sub-committee’s recommendations are still under review, and any changes would likely be reflected in future recruitment drives.