Ladakh reserves subordinate service jobs for locals

Leh, June 9

Ladakh administration has reserved all subordinate service jobs in the union territory for the local residents, a development welcomed by BJP but dismissed by an Opposition leader on the plea that the rules are “full of flaws”.

Also read: CPI(M) questions Centre on decision to reserve jobs for Ladakh residents

In a notification issued by the Labour and employment department on Tuesday, the administration announced the “Union Territory of Ladakh Employment (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules 2021”, reserving jobs exclusively for the locals.

 “No person shall be qualified for appointment to the service unless the person is a resident of the Union Territory of Ladakh,” the notification read, clarifying that the rules shall not apply to persons with services in UT of Ladakh under the provisions of section 89(2) of Jammu and Kashmir Re-organization Act 2019, or such rules as may be prescribed by the administration.

 Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two union territories on August 5, 2019 after its special status under Article 370 was revoked.

 The recruitment rules, framed by Lietenant Governor R K Mathur, would come into force from the date of their publication in the official gazette, the notification read.

 “The residents of Union Territory of Ladakh means any person who satisfies the criteria of residence as may be prescribed for the purpose of employment under the administration of Union Territory of Ladakh under any act, rules or regulation having force of law in Union Territory of Ladakh,” the notification said.

 As per the rules, the appointment to the service shall be made by direct recruitment or by promotion, failing which by absorption. The competent authority to appoint a person to the service by absorption shall be the administration.

“Every person on appointment to the service, by direct recruitment shall be on probation for a period of two years. Person on appointment to the service by promotion or by absorption shall be on probation for a period of six months,” the notification said.

 It said the age limit and other qualifications for direct recruitment would be as prescribed by the administration.

 “If any question arises relating to the interpretation of these rules, the matter shall be referred to the administrative department whose decision thereon shall be final and binding,” the notification said.

 Ladakh BJP president and MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal thanked the Centre for the new rules, saying they were in accordance with the sentiments of the people.

“Thanks #ModiSarkar, especially Hon. Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah Ji for respecting the sentiments and considering the demands of people of Ladakh in respect of #JobSafeguards for the residents of Ladakh,” Namgyal said in a tweet.

 However, prominent politician from Kargil Sajjad Hussain expressed his resentment against the new rules, claiming that these are “full of flaws”.

 “…but these rules are full of flaws – Who is the resident of Ladakh, what is the criteria? LAHDCs (Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil) were totally ignored and rules unilaterally imposed,” Hussain, who enjoyed the backing of National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party as a candidate in the last parliamentary elections, wrote on twitter. PTI