Srinagar, June 29: In a glaring instance of official apathy, the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) is without a full-fledged Managing Director for the past two years, thus badly hitting the functioning of the Corporation. While the J&K Government has advertised the post in 2010, and thrice called 14 shortlisted applicants for interview, the post is still to be filled as the interviews are being deferred time and again for unknown reasons.
 J&K Transport Department had advertised the post of Managing Director vide notification No (PS/C/S/-Tpt/2010) Dated 25-01-2010. At least 100 applicants applied against it in January 2010 out of which 14 were shortlisted for interview.
 “After short-listing, the interview call letters were issued to the aspirants thrice, but the interview was not held for unknown reasons,” said a source in the SRTC.
 While officials blame the 2010 unrest for delay in holding the interview, the State Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, who heads the interview panel for the post of MD, told Greater Kashmir  that the “short-listed candidates were not qualified for the post.”
 The Chief Secretary had no answer as to why the candidates were shortlisted if they “were not qualified for the post.” “I don’t have off hand details about the issue. However, I will look into it,” he said.
 Pertinently, the Transport Department is yet to clarify why it has been postponing the interviews time and again.
 “The interview for the post of managing director J&K SRTC which was scheduled to be held on 03-08-2010 at SKICC Srinagar will now be held on 25-09-2010 at 10 am at the same venue,” a call letter, sent to 14 short-listed candidates, reads.
 Another such letter reads: “The interview for the selection of the post of managing director J&K SRTC which was fixed on 25-09-2010 at 10 am at SKICC Srinagar is hereby postponed. The fresh date will be communicated separately.”
 Two years down the line, the applicants have not received any fresh call letter from the department. 
 Official sources disclosed that the eligibility for the post was MBA with more than five years of experience. “14 short listed candidates had this qualification,” they said. “But it has begun raising questions as to why the interviews are not held. The Department must come clean on the issue to dispel the apprehensions that it was not serious about holding the interview and ensure proper functioning of the SRTC.”
 The interview panel, sources said, comprised Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Commissioner/Secretary Transport and Commissioner/Secretary GAD.
 When contacted the Minister for Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon said: “We already have a managing director who was earlier deputy director.”
 But, according to sources, the post of the MD is yet to be filled through proper channel.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST