Ziraat Times Team Report
Jammu: In a potential setback to thousands of contractual and need-based employees in Jammu & Kashmir, the government has made it clear that there will be no regularisation of their services.
Responding to a question (AQ No. 598) raised by BJP MLA Shakti Raj Parihar, the government stated that absorbing employees from schemes such as NYC, Rehbar-e-Khel, Rehbar-e-Ziraat, and CIC into regular services would violate Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Indian Constitution.
SC ruling behind the decision
The government cited the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the State of Karnataka vs. Uma Devi case, which ruled that regularisation of contractual employees through executive or statutory orders, or legislative enactments, violates constitutional provisions. Based on this ruling, the government clarified that any policy of automatic regularisation is under review and cannot be implemented without breaching the law.
Uncertainty for thousands
The statement may come as a big disappointment to thousands of contractual, daily wagers, and need-based workers who have been demanding regularisation for years. Many of these employees have been working under government-sponsored schemes for a long time with low wages, no job security, and limited benefits. The government’s latest stance is in contrast to previous commitments made by various political parties regarding the gradual absorption of these employees into permanent roles.
However, those who know J&K’s fiscal situation, often argue that the state is in no position to bear the huge financial burden that could come with the regularisation of this large number of contractual and temporary government workers.
The decision is expected to affect thousands of staff of critical sectors such as education, agriculture, sports, and IT, where thousands of contractual workers are engaged under different schemes. Programs such as Rehbar-e-Khel (sports instructors), Rehbar-e-Ziraat (agricultural workers), and NYC (National Youth Corps) have been instrumental in filling gaps in public services, but employees under these programs now face an uncertain future.
Highly disappointing one action condemnable NC government has done it in Rehbar e talim even qualification was relaxed with a ridergovernment can do regularity in case intent to do.