With leaves cancelled ahead of the Lok Sabha elections-2024, the in-service Government employees who are set to appear in the JKAS Mains starting later this month have been left in the lurch.
As per details, the Mains exam is scheduled to be held from March 26 to April 3 this year. However, with the cancellation of leaves, the aspirants from various Government departments find themselves in a difficult situation.
In this regard, the candidates have written a letter to Chief Secretary, Atal Dullo, seeking necessary measures in this regard.
The letter highlights, “…the current timing of the mains exams coincides with the crucial phase of the election process, leading to a conflict for many aspirants who are actively involved in election-related duties or employed in sectors where leave approvals have been canceled during this period.”
Moreover, the letter mentioned that the Public Service Commissions (PSCs) of other States have also changed the dates of their exams citing similar reasons.
“…we request you to find an amicable solution so that our right to equal opportunity for appearing in this exam is upheld.”
It is noteworthy that nearly 200 in-service candidates are scheduled to appear in the exam on different days starting from the examination’s commencement date, March 26.
The candidates expressed to Excelsior that necessary measures need to be taken, which include either granting leave on the said dates or rescheduling the examination by the JKPSC.
They said that some of their in-service candidates are working as Naib Tehsildars and some as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are actively involved in the election process particularly in the Jammu region and that it is impossible for them to leave the station at this time for 10 days and write the mains exam.
“Directions should be passed, notifying the in-service candidates as exceptions and granting them leave so that they are able to appear in the exam, or rescheduling the examination,” stated one of the aspirants.
They said that while there is a need for following the necessary regulations ahead of the start of the largest poll exercise in the world, their career and the hard work which they have put in so far must also be considered.
“We urge LG Manoj Sinha, the CS, and other concerned authorities to kindly look into the matter and do the needful with an aim of the betterment of the in-service aspirants,” they said.
