Review the recruitment process

The surfacing up of the rigging in the selection and appointment of some officers in a public sector undertaking is just the tip of an iceberg. For past many years, favoritism, nepotism, corruption, political affiliations, and considerations; all this made the thumb rule for appointments in most of the public sector undertakings. It has been in the public domain that even the examinations conducted for recruitment in some major public sector undertakings are rigged with impunity. It is not only the political bosses, and the management but even the trade union leaders in various organizations who have been hand in glove with the political bosses in perpetuating the culture of backdoor appointments. There have been unconfirmed reports that over thirty percent employees in some important autonomous academic and other institutions and public sector undertakings have been appointed by violating the recruitment process or through backdoor. To restore faith in the process of recruitment in public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies the government should get appointments made during past few decades audited by independent agencies. Moreover, despite tall claims the state has no well defined employment policy and has adopted an opaque recruitment procedure that provides an opportunity for harming outstanding and meritorious candidates. The faith of youth in the recruitment policy of the state has got shaken contributing to the growing anger in the educated youth; and this does not augur well for the state. For people at the top, it is time to address this anger and restore confidence of the youth in the recruitment institutions of the state. The exposure of the appointment made in J&K Khadi Village and Industries Board flouting all norms has come as blessing in disguise for the government in as much as providing it a slit to know how shamelessly recruitment process was being abused by the powerful. Scores of brilliant, meritorious, highly qualified youth had applied for the posts advertised by the Board. While many with merit and higher qualifications were not even shortlisted, rules were bent for recruiting a favorite. The reports suggested even those not shortlisted were appointed on senior position in the board. It is good that the Chief Minister has ordered a high level inquiry to look into the appointments and asked the Chief Secretary led inquiry team to submit a report to the government. Those found guilty of having committed a fraud should be brought to the book. Moreover, there is need for changing recruitment process for the public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies – making the process transparent and placed under established recruitment agencies like the Public Service Commission.