No area-specific reservation for class-IV jobs in Gurez under law: Govt

Shafat Malik
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07 Feb 2026

Srinagar, Feb 06: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that there is no provision for reserving Class-IV government posts exclusively for local candidates in Gurez, as recruitment across the Union Territory is governed by the existing legal framework based on domicile, not area-specific preference. Replying to a starred question tabled by Nazir Ahmad Khan, the government said that posts in the Gurez area are adequately filled as per the sanctioned strength, and staff postings are made strictly in accordance with prescribed rules and procedures. Addressing concerns that employees from outside Gurez are reluctant to serve in the area, the government said it continuously monitors staffing positions across all regions to ensure the smooth functioning of offices and uninterrupted delivery of public services. On the issue of staff shortage, the government said that while vacancies do arise in certain departments from time to time due to routine administrative reasons, there is no acute shortage affecting overall governance or service delivery. It added that necessary steps are being taken to fill vacancies wherever required. The government also responded to queries regarding past practices during the tenure of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, when locals were reportedly given preference against Class-IV vacancies in Gurez. It said that recruitment is now governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment) Act, 2010, and the rules framed under it. The House was informed that the Act was amended by the Central Government following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, through a notification issued on March 31, 2020, which mandates that government recruitment in J&K is to be conducted on the basis of domicile of the Union Territory. Under the current legal framework, the government clarified, no area-specific reservation or local preference is provided for any region, including Gurez, in recruitment to government posts.