Recruitment Rules Flouted, Seniority Subverted as Illegality brings Under Clouds Dy Director HP&M after 23 years

Srinagar: In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that Naheed Jabeen, presently serving as the Deputy Director in the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing, has allegedly been holding the position illegally for the past 23 years. The controversy surrounds her appointment as Assistant Grading and Marketing Officer, a post she reportedly secured despite lacking the prescribed educational qualifications.
Sources told Kashmir Horizon that Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) had issued Advertisement Notification No 4-PSC of 1997 on March 23, 1997, inviting applications for ten positions of Assistant Grading and Marketing Officers in the Agriculture Production Department.
“The specified educational qualifications included a Bachelor’s Degree with Economics as a subject and a Diploma in Agriculture Marketing, Commerce Graduate with Diploma in Agriculture Marketing, or BSc in Agriculture with Diploma in Agriculture Marketing/Marketing Management,” he said but nothing was followed.
Naheed Jabeen, possessing only a BSc qualification, applied for the position. The JKPSC conducted interviews on April 3rd and 4th, 2000, in Jammu, and she was subsequently selected at Serial No 03 in the Open Merit Category without meeting the specified criteria.
After the issuance of the selection list on April 25, 2000, she produced a Diploma in Marketing Management, which was not the prescribed technical qualification for a candidate with a Graduation in Economics and Commerce.
Despite the irregularities in her appointment, the Agriculture Production Department appointed Naheed Jabeen along with four other candidates on November 17, 2000, with a condition in the appointment order that their appointments were subject to the verification of academic and technical qualifications. Shockingly, the qualifications of Naheed Jabeen have not been checked or verified by any authority to date.
The matter came to light when another candidate, Arvind Kumar Kotwal, filed a writ petition in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, seeking a directive for his appointment. The court, acknowledging the irregularities, ruled that the petitioner, being ineligible, could not compel the appointing authority to issue an appointment order.
The judgment highlighted the presence of three other ineligible candidates, including Naheed Jabeen, who had been appointed without meeting the prescribed qualifications.
Despite the court’s observations, Naheed Jabeen has been holding various positions, including Assistant Grading and Marketing Officer, Area Marketing Officer, and currently Deputy Director Kashmir Horticulture (P&M), for the past 23 years without possessing the necessary academic and technical qualifications.
In light of these serious allegations and the potential quashing of her appointment, demands are growing for a government inquiry into the matter. It is urged that the services of Naheed Jabeen, an allegedly ineligible candidate, be terminated without further delay.
“The case underscores the importance of transparency and adherence to established criteria in government appointments, urging swift corrective action to rectify any discrepancies in staffing within the department,” sources told KH.
Vikas Sharma (JKAS), Director of Horticulture, Planning, and Marketing, informed Kashmir Horizon that he is unable to comment on the matter at hand. The administration is actively handling the specific case, and further information may be provided by the concerned administrative authorities, he added.
Previously, Ayaz Ahmed Natnoo, Deputy Director Jammu and Assistant Grading & Marketing Officer, submitted a tentative Seniority List to the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) APD Horticulture Department at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu. The list, issued under Order No. 142-JK (APD) of 2023 dated 01.03.2023, pertains to the Assistant Grading & Marketing Officer J&K Horticulture (P&M) Gazetted Service.
Upon examination, it was noted that Naheed Jabeen, currently serving as Deputy Director (K), was positioned at S. No. 19, with qualifications listed as B.Sc., M. Com, and a Diploma in Marketing Management.
However, as per the notification no. 4-PSC of 1997 dated 25.03.1997, the stipulated qualifications were a Bachelor’s Degree with Economics as a subject and a diploma in Agriculture Marketing, Commerce Graduate with a Diploma in Agriculture Marketing, or B. Sc. Agriculture with a Diploma in Agriculture Marketing / Marketing Management.
The statement revealed, “Naheed Jabeen was appointed under the said notification via Order No. 442-AGRI of 2000 dated 17.11.2000, despite being an ineligible candidate, and has been placed over and above the undersigned at S. No. 19.”
In response, the delegation urged the authorities to reassess the placement of the undersigned at S. No. 19 in comparison to Naheed Jabeen, considering her status as an ineligible candidate.