Timeline extended for issuance of recruitment rules through executive orders

Jammu, Jun 19: J&K Government has extended the time period for notification of recruitment rules through 'Executive Orders’ by the administrative departments by another period of one year.

This is the second extension after the lapse of a six-month period, extended in November last year. “In continuation to Government Order No 635-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated February 16, 2024, read-with Government Order No 1998-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated November 28, 2024, sanction is hereby accorded to the extension in time period for notification of recruitment rules through ‘Executive Orders’ by the Administrative Departments by another period of one year,” read an order issued by M Raju, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD).

On November 28, 2024, the J&K Government had extended this time period for a period of six months with a caution that the extension would not be a perpetual alternative to the formulation or framing of regular recruitment rules.

The departments were asked to expedite the process (formulation or framing of recruitment rules) in a time bound manner with the warning that “no further extension in this regard will be granted in future.” As per November 28, 2024 notification, the time extension was accorded, keeping in view insufficient time available to departments to finalize proposals and obtain concurrence of ARI and Trainings and Law Department after the notifying of guidelines and checklist for them (departments) in June 2024 by ARI and Trainings Department.

The General Administration Department, vide Government Order No 635-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated February 16, 2024, in supersession of instructions notified vide Circular No 20-JK(GAD) of 2023 dated July 19, 2023, had allowed Administrative Departments to issue ‘Executive Orders’ for “filling the gaps in existing recruitment rules or where there were no formal recruitment rules in place,  for specified critical posts, as also to act on such Executive Orders issued already; as a one-time exemption for a period of six months.”

However, this permission was with the stipulation that during this period the departments would finalize or revise the recruitment rules as per the prescribed procedure.

Initially, the arrangement for notification of recruitment rules through Executive Orders was permissible for a period of only six months, however, after the ARI and Trainings Department issued guidelines and checklist, the available time for departments to finalize proposals and obtain concurrence of ARI and Trainings and Law Department was significantly reduced.