Recruitments for H-K people under Article 371(J) unlikely in near future

The people of Hyderabad Karnataka region may have to wait for a few more months to reap the dividends of employment through specialised reservation because the conduct of recruitment may not be possible in the near future.

This is mainly because of the delay in finalising the procedure of recruitment and completion of all formalities. This is expected to affect recruitments across the State.
Even if the government hastens the process of completing the formalities, say in about a month, it may still not be possible to go ahead with recruitment due to the code of conduct for the general elections which may come into force either in the last week of February or the first week of March.

Since January is almost over, the State has just about a month to identify the posts, evolve a special cadre for the region, set up establishments for issue of various certificates and documents etc. Highly placed sources said that keeping all this in mind, it may not be possible to go for recruitment in the near future.

Once the administration becomes busy with the election process, all other things, except emergency matters, law and order and routine administration, virtually go into hibernation. This means the process of conducting recruitment could be started latest by June.

One of the major tasks before the government is to set up a system for issue of eligibility and validity certificates to job aspirants for claiming reservation on domicile or by birth in all the six districts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, and Bellary.

It will be a cumbersome task to issue both the certificates as there will be a flood of applications. The administration should be ready to face the unprecedented pressure for issuing the certificates by verifying all the claims in the minimum possible time. This may also result in some more problems leading to further delay in recruitment.

The government on January 7, 2014, issued a draft of the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation in Appointment for Hyderabad Karnataka Region) (Issue of Eligibility Certificates) Rules, 2013, and also Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation in Appointment for Hyderabad Karnataka Region) (Issue of Eligibility Certificates) Order, 2013.

The H-K Special Cell in the DPAR has invited objections within 15 days of notification of draft rules and the final notification will be ready in the first or second week of February after considering objections. The completion of this process will take its own time and it would be almost impossible to conduct any recruitment before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections.

The delay in recruitment because of Article 371 (J) will not only affect the H-K region but also the entire State. This is mainly because of eight per cent reservation in the State government posts outside the region. Several departments have withheld recruitment plans because of finalisation rules and regulations governing recruitment after the advent of Article 371 (J).