Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
Senior ministers of the National Conference (NC)-led government on Sunday mounted a strong defence of the administration’s recruitment policy, rejecting allegations of irregular appointments and asserting that the outsourcing system at the centre of the controversy was introduced during the previous People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani said the government was committed to ensuring transparency in recruitment and dispelling what he described as misinformation surrounding its employment policy.
“Many misconceptions have been spread regarding our government’s employment policy. It is our responsibility to ensure that the public receives the correct facts,” Wani said.
Drawing a contrast with previous recruitment practices, Wani said the current administration had ensured transparency and merit in the selection process.
“Today, we are not witnessing the practices that were common in the past, such as paper leaks, cancelled selection lists and other irregularities. Those experiences belong to the past,” he said.
He added that the government had initiated a drive to fill nearly 40,000 vacancies through a transparent, merit-based recruitment process, which he said was expected to be completed soon.
Responding to allegations surrounding outsourcing, Wani maintained that the policy was inherited from the previous PDP-led government.
“The outsourcing framework was introduced between 2015 and 2018. All the appointments currently being questioned were initiated before the 2024 elections. The same process has simply continued,” he said.
Wani also challenged the Opposition to substantiate its allegations.
“If anyone can produce even a single piece of evidence proving that this government has made a backdoor appointment, let them do so,” he said.
Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo said outsourcing was being used only to address immediate administrative requirements and was not a substitute for regular recruitment.
“Outsourced personnel are engaged over and above the sanctioned strength of departments to meet urgent service requirements,” she said, citing the example of hospitals requiring technicians for newly installed equipment while regular recruitment is underway.
She further clarified that outsourcing agencies are selected through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal via a transparent tendering process, adding that renewals and extensions were part of the policy inherited from the previous administration.
Both leaders accused the PDP of politicising an issue involving a system that, they claimed, was introduced during its tenure.
“Those making these allegations should know this better than anyone because the outsourcing system itself was introduced during their tenure,” Wani said.
