Union ministry of home affairs has disclosed that there are 2477 posts lying vacant in Jammu and Kashmir police department.
In a written reply, the union home minister, Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha stated that there are total 4,43,524 police vacancies in the country, of which 2447 are in the state of J&K.
“As ‘police’ is a state subject falling in list-II of seventh schedule of the constitution of India, it is primarily the responsibility of the state governments to fill all the vacancies in their respective state in time bound manner,” reads the reply of Home minister.
“The centre advises the states from time to time for taking requisite action in this regard.
“Further, the issue of vacancies in police forces of 10 left wing extremism (LWE) affected states is regularly monitored by the government.
“Recently the matter has been reviewed by the cabinet secretary as well as the union home minister and the states have been advised to take suitable action for filling up the vacancies,” it adds.
A senior J&K police official said the lingering litigations were the main cause of delay in filing up the vacant posts.
In 2017, chairman police recruitment board (SIs) had notified the candidates who had qualified PET/PST for the post of sub-inspector for written examination. “But the examination has been stayed by the High Court vide order dated 25.09.2017 and 06.10.2017 passed in SWP 2360/2017 and SWP 2452/2017,” he said.
It may be recalled that J&K government in legislative assembly in February disclosed that over 41,000 gazetted and non-gazetted posts were lying vacant in 37 government departments in Jammu and Kashmir, with over 14,750 posts referred to recruiting agencies in the last two years.
“A total of 41,147 posts –6034 gazetted and 35113 non- gazetted – are vacant till date in 37 departments with school education department leading with 2153 gazetted and 9448 non- gazetted vacancies,” the official said
There are 1109 gazetted and 332 non-gazetted posts vacant in higher education department, 568 gazetted and 1542 non-gazetted in Ladakh affairs department, 512 gazetted and 186 non-gazetted in general administration department and 268 gazetted and 970 non-gazetted posts in agriculture production department.
At the same time, nearly 40 per cent youth in the age group of 15 to 30 years are unemployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The number of unemployed youth in the state is much higher than national level, the government of India has revealed in Lok Sabha.
In Jammu and Kashmir, out of 1000 persons in the age of 15-17 years, 555 persons are unemployed. In age of 18-30 years 228 persons are jobless out of 1000 persons.
The aggregate percentage of number of unemployed youth stands at 39.15 percent in J&K which is 17 percent higher than national level of unemployment.
All India unemployment in the age group of 15-17 years is 130 persons out of 1000 persons. In age group of 18-19 years it stands at 102 persons out of 1000 persons.
The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above (per 1000) in Jammu and Kashmir is calculated as per the employment- unemployment survey.