NC MP Masoodi decries “commercialisation” of selection process*

Srinagar/June, 6: Member Parliament Anantnag and senior National Conference leader Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi has strongly objected to exorbitant application fee charged by the J&K SSRB from aspirants for various posts advertised by the Board from time to time including the recent advertisement notice no. 03 of 2021 dated 04.06.3021 whereby 503 posts in various government departments have been advertised. Masoodi has asked the LG administration and the Board authorities to take notice of adverse impact COVID-19 pandemic has had on small business, transport and tourism and avoid converting selection process into a profit making venture. The prolonged lockdown extending over two years has pushed general public and in particular middle class to a financial crisis, the statement says .Masoodi asking the Board authorities to be realistic while fixing the application fee and not loose sight of the fact that an unemployed and underemployed youth is constrained to respond to every advertisement notice that comes his way till he makes it to the final selection list and exorbitant application fee may in present scenario discourage him from responding to the advertisement notice though otherwise eligible. The application fee fixed in the latest advertisement notice, in present circumstances is punitive, it is stated. Masoodi has reminded the Board authorities that immediate cause for tragic incident of suicide by a youth reportedly was his inability to pay the fee due to unwarranted denial of salary to his father. It is intriguing that while UPSC charges a fee of Rs 50 for online application to civil service preliminary examination and Rs 100 for offline application, the Board is charging application fee seven times the fee charged by the UPSC, the statement adds. Masoodi has asked the LG administration and the Board to rationalise the application fee having due regard to the fee charged by other such bodies. The Board, it is emphasised, is not expected to be insensitive to the plight of the people and must either completely waive the application fee at least till the time normal business activities resume, making use of its already full coffers to go ahead with the present selection process or at least bring it at par to the level of fee charged by Union Public Service Commission.