Srinagar: A shocking revelation has come to light through a recent petition filed in the High Court, exposing a deep-rooted injustice in Jammu and Kashmir’s government recruitment system.
According to the data submitted in the plea, Open Merit candidates—who form around 70% of the population—have received less than 41% of government jobs over the past 14 years. The figures clearly suggest a systematic neglect of merit-based recruitment, raising serious concerns about fairness and equal opportunity in public employment.
Is Merit No Longer a Priority in Government Jobs?
The statistics point toward a disturbing trend—reservations are being prioritized over merit, leaving many deserving youth unemployed and hopeless. With the recent implementation of a new reservation policy, the situation has worsened. After applying horizontal reservation, the share of Open Merit candidates has further dropped to around 30%, effectively shrinking the opportunities for the majority of aspirants.
Thousands of Careers at Stake
This is not just a matter of numbers. It's about thousands of young, educated individuals whose dreams and careers have been shattered due to skewed recruitment practices. For many, government jobs are the only hope in a region with limited private sector opportunities.
Time to Raise Our Voice
As the data exposes the ground reality, it’s time for civil society, youth, and policymakers to demand accountability. Merit cannot be the casualty of any system. A balanced approach that promotes both equality and excellence is the need of the hour.
