Jammu, Aug 31: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has refuted the news circulated in a section of media, which attempts to create a false impression that the shortlist of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) category has been delayed by the JKSSB, and that the shortlist of all other categories has been notified.

The JKSSB, in a statement has said it is a fact that the Provisional Shortlist of all categories, except Persons with Disabilities (PWD) category have been notified in June, 2021 and their document verification commenced soon thereafter and continues to be underway currently. The above fact in itself demonstrates that there might have been a valid reason for not issuing the Provisional Shortlist in respect of Person with Disabilities (PWDs) category.

In the aforesaid context, it is clarified that there was a discrepancy in the Government Order No. 49- SW of 2021 dated:15.04.2021 in respect of identical Class IV posts pertaining to  different departments, insofar as eligibility of different sub categories of PWDs is concerned, due to which the shortlist could not be finalized. Accordingly, the JKSSB took up the matter with the General Administration Department with the request to ask the Social Welfare Department to clarify the matter, enabling the JKSSB to proceed ahead.

The requisite clarification from the Social Welfare Department is still awaited, as a consequence whereof, the said Provisional Shortlist in respect of PWDs category could not be notified.The publication of the Provisional Shortlist of PWD category has not been delayed due to inaction of the JKSSB, rather factors beyond its control are responsible for the delay.

The JKSSB in recent times, despite risks and difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has set examples in efficient, transparent and timely disposal of issues/matters pertaining to recruitment and any attempt to attribute delay, directly or otherwise, to the JKSSB in the publication of Provisional Shortlist relating to PWDs category candidates is motivated and bereft of any truth.

The JKSSB will notify the Provisional Shortlist of PWDs category as and when the requisite clarification is received from the concerned quarters. gns