In 2022, the Agriculture Production Department, J&K, entrusted the recruitment process to SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir. The recruitment was conducted through open public advertisements, a competitive written examination, and mandatory document, Police, and CID verification, strictly in accordance with Government norms. Thousands of eligible candidates competed for a limited number of posts, and only the most meritorious candidates were selected.

However, the subsequent engagement of MVU manpower through private outsourcing agencies on a first-come, first-served basis represents a significant departure from the earlier system of open competition. Such a mechanism reduces transparency, weakens merit-based selection, and deprives qualified unemployed youth of an equal opportunity to compete through a fair public recruitment process.

It is equally unfortunate that candidates who earned their positions through a rigorous, Government-supervised competitive process are now being placed alongside outsourced manpower recruited through an entirely different mechanism. This undermines the value of the original merit-based selection and creates uncertainty regarding the careers of those who secured their employment through fair competition.

We have repeatedly approached the Department and the competent authorities with representations seeking protection of our legitimate interests. Our only request has been that the Government preserve the integrity of the merit-based recruitment process by ensuring that those recruited through open competitive examination are not displaced or equated with outsourced manpower engaged in recent few years through private agencies by the incumbent Government.

A transparent Government recruitment system strengthens public confidence, protects the interests of deserving unemployed youth, and upholds the constitutional values of equality, fairness, and equal opportunity in public employment. We therefore respectfully urge the Government to continue filling technical public posts through open, competitive recruitment rather than outsourcing, so that merit remains the cornerstone of public service in Jammu & Kashmir. Preservation of Merit-Based Recruitment in Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) and Protection of Government-Recruited APD–SKUAST Personnel

It is respectfully submitted that the recruitment of Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU) Veterinarians and Paravets undertaken in 2022 through SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir, under the supervision of the Agriculture Production Department, J&K, represented a transparent, competitive and merit-based Government recruitment process.

The recruitment was conducted through open public advertisements, followed by a State-level OMR-based written examination, preparation of merit lists, verification of educational and technical qualifications, domicile verification, and Police/CID verification, strictly in accordance with the prescribed Government norms. Thousands of eligible candidates competed for a limited number of posts, and only the most meritorious candidates were selected. This recruitment upheld the constitutional principles of equality, transparency, fairness and equal opportunity in public employment.

Following our selection, we joined the Animal Husbandry Department in March/June 2023 and have now rendered nearly three years of uninterrupted service under the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme. During this period, we have provided round-the-clock veterinary services through the 1962 Toll-Free Veterinary Helpdesk, attended emergencies, carried out disease surveillance, vaccination programmes, artificial insemination support, livestock treatment, field visits, record maintenance and other essential veterinary services across rural, remote, border and tribal areas of Jammu & Kashmir.

However, subsequent administrative decisions have introduced a different system of engagement for MVU manpower through private outsourcing agencies under GeM contracts. Official communications indicate that Veterinary Doctors and Veterinary Inspectors have been deployed through private service providers for the implementation of the MVU Scheme. Consequently, Government-recruited APD–SKUAST personnel are now being required to function within the same outsourced operational framework as manpower engaged through private agencies, despite having entered service through an entirely different recruitment process.

This marks a significant departure from the original merit-based recruitment mechanism. While the Government may adopt outsourcing as an administrative model for implementation of a scheme, Government-recruited personnel selected through open competition should not lose the distinct status earned through a transparent public recruitment process. Equating or subsuming such personnel within outsourced contractual arrangements diminishes the value of merit-based selection, weakens public confidence in Government recruitment, and discourages deserving unemployed youth who prepare for competitive examinations with the expectation of fair and transparent selection.

The distinction between the two categories is fundamental. APD–SKUAST recruited Veterinarians and Paravets entered service only after qualifying a competitive written examination and completing all statutory verifications prescribed by the Government. In contrast, outsourced manpower is engaged under contractual arrangements through private service providers under a different administrative framework. The two categories, therefore, originate from different recruitment mechanisms and should not be treated alike for service purposes.

Our grievance is not against any individual or against the Government's policy decisions regarding the implementation of the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme. Our only humble request is that the sanctity of the original merit-based recruitment process be preserved. Government-recruited APD–SKUAST MVU personnel should not be displaced, merged into outsourced contractual arrangements, or deprived of the value of the transparent selection process through which they entered public service.

We respectfully submit that, if the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme is to continue, the services of APD–SKUAST recruited MVU personnel may also be continued co-terminus with the Scheme under the administrative control of the Animal Husbandry Department. In the alternative, if the Government considers it administratively feasible, our services may be adjusted against available vacant Non-Gazetted departmental posts requiring equivalent technical qualifications and experience, without the creation of additional posts.

Such a course would protect the integrity of the original Government recruitment, preserve trained and experienced technical manpower, avoid disruption of veterinary services, maintain continuity in public service delivery, and uphold the principles of transparency, fairness and merit in Government employment.

We therefore most respectfully pray that the Government may:

1. Preserve the distinct status of APD–SKUAST recruited MVU personnel selected through the 2022 competitive recruitment process.
2. Ensure that Government-recruited personnel are not treated at par with manpower engaged through subsequent outsourcing arrangements.
3. Continue the services of APD–SKUAST recruited Veterinarians and Paravets co-terminus with the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme under the Animal Husbandry Department.
4. Consider adjustment against existing suitable departmental vacancies, wherever administratively feasible, without creation of additional posts.
5. Protect the legitimate expectations of candidates who secured their appointments through a transparent, competitive and Government-supervised recruitment process.

Such a decision would not only safeguard the careers of duly recruited and experienced technical personnel but would also reinforce public confidence in merit-based Government recruitment and ensure uninterrupted veterinary healthcare services for the livestock farmers of Jammu & Kashmir.

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In 2022, the Agriculture Production Department, J&K, entrusted the recruitment process to SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir. The recruitment was conducted through open public advertisements, a competitive written examination, and mandatory document, Police, and CID verification, strictly in accordance with Government norms. Thousands of eligible candidates competed for a limited number of posts, and only the most meritorious candidates were selected.

However, the subsequent engagement of MVU manpower through private outsourcing agencies on a first-come, first-served basis represents a significant departure from the earlier system of open competition. Such a mechanism reduces transparency, weakens merit-based selection, and deprives qualified unemployed youth of an equal opportunity to compete through a fair public recruitment process.

It is equally unfortunate that candidates who earned their positions through a rigorous, Government-supervised competitive process are now being placed alongside outsourced manpower recruited through an entirely different mechanism. This undermines the value of the original merit-based selection and creates uncertainty regarding the careers of those who secured their employment through fair competition.

We have repeatedly approached the Department and the competent authorities with representations seeking protection of our legitimate interests. Our only request has been that the Government preserve the integrity of the merit-based recruitment process by ensuring that those recruited through open competitive examination are not displaced or equated with outsourced manpower engaged in recent few years through private agencies by the incumbent Government.

A transparent Government recruitment system strengthens public confidence, protects the interests of deserving unemployed youth, and upholds the constitutional values of equality, fairness, and equal opportunity in public employment. We therefore respectfully urge the Government to continue filling technical public posts through open, competitive recruitment rather than outsourcing, so that merit remains the cornerstone of public service in Jammu & Kashmir. Preservation of Merit-Based Recruitment in Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) and Protection of Government-Recruited APD–SKUAST Personnel

It is respectfully submitted that the recruitment of Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU) Veterinarians and Paravets undertaken in 2022 through SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir, under the supervision of the Agriculture Production Department, J&K, represented a transparent, competitive and merit-based Government recruitment process.

The recruitment was conducted through open public advertisements, followed by a State-level OMR-based written examination, preparation of merit lists, verification of educational and technical qualifications, domicile verification, and Police/CID verification, strictly in accordance with the prescribed Government norms. Thousands of eligible candidates competed for a limited number of posts, and only the most meritorious candidates were selected. This recruitment upheld the constitutional principles of equality, transparency, fairness and equal opportunity in public employment.

Following our selection, we joined the Animal Husbandry Department in March/June 2023 and have now rendered nearly three years of uninterrupted service under the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme. During this period, we have provided round-the-clock veterinary services through the 1962 Toll-Free Veterinary Helpdesk, attended emergencies, carried out disease surveillance, vaccination programmes, artificial insemination support, livestock treatment, field visits, record maintenance and other essential veterinary services across rural, remote, border and tribal areas of Jammu & Kashmir.

However, subsequent administrative decisions have introduced a different system of engagement for MVU manpower through private outsourcing agencies under GeM contracts. Official communications indicate that Veterinary Doctors and Veterinary Inspectors have been deployed through private service providers for the implementation of the MVU Scheme. Consequently, Government-recruited APD–SKUAST personnel are now being required to function within the same outsourced operational framework as manpower engaged through private agencies, despite having entered service through an entirely different recruitment process.

This marks a significant departure from the original merit-based recruitment mechanism. While the Government may adopt outsourcing as an administrative model for implementation of a scheme, Government-recruited personnel selected through open competition should not lose the distinct status earned through a transparent public recruitment process. Equating or subsuming such personnel within outsourced contractual arrangements diminishes the value of merit-based selection, weakens public confidence in Government recruitment, and discourages deserving unemployed youth who prepare for competitive examinations with the expectation of fair and transparent selection.

The distinction between the two categories is fundamental. APD–SKUAST recruited Veterinarians and Paravets entered service only after qualifying a competitive written examination and completing all statutory verifications prescribed by the Government. In contrast, outsourced manpower is engaged under contractual arrangements through private service providers under a different administrative framework. The two categories, therefore, originate from different recruitment mechanisms and should not be treated alike for service purposes.

Our grievance is not against any individual or against the Government's policy decisions regarding the implementation of the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme. Our only humble request is that the sanctity of the original merit-based recruitment process be preserved. Government-recruited APD–SKUAST MVU personnel should not be displaced, merged into outsourced contractual arrangements, or deprived of the value of the transparent selection process through which they entered public service.

We respectfully submit that, if the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme is to continue, the services of APD–SKUAST recruited MVU personnel may also be continued co-terminus with the Scheme under the administrative control of the Animal Husbandry Department. In the alternative, if the Government considers it administratively feasible, our services may be adjusted against available vacant Non-Gazetted departmental posts requiring equivalent technical qualifications and experience, without the creation of additional posts.

Such a course would protect the integrity of the original Government recruitment, preserve trained and experienced technical manpower, avoid disruption of veterinary services, maintain continuity in public service delivery, and uphold the principles of transparency, fairness and merit in Government employment.

We therefore most respectfully pray that the Government may:

1. Preserve the distinct status of APD–SKUAST recruited MVU personnel selected through the 2022 competitive recruitment process.
2. Ensure that Government-recruited personnel are not treated at par with manpower engaged through subsequent outsourcing arrangements.
3. Continue the services of APD–SKUAST recruited Veterinarians and Paravets co-terminus with the Mobile Veterinary Unit Scheme under the Animal Husbandry Department.
4. Consider adjustment against existing suitable departmental vacancies, wherever administratively feasible, without creation of additional posts.
5. Protect the legitimate expectations of candidates who secured their appointments through a transparent, competitive and Government-supervised recruitment process.

Such a decision would not only safeguard the careers of duly recruited and experienced technical personnel but would also reinforce public confidence in merit-based Government recruitment and ensure uninterrupted veterinary healthcare services for the livestock farmers of Jammu & Kashmir.

1 Comments