Srinagar, Jan 31: Growing frustration is being witnessed among job aspirants across Jammu and Kashmir as the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) continues to delay the finalization of recruitment processes for posts advertised nearly five years ago, leaving thousands of candidates trapped in prolonged uncertainty.

Several aspirants who have successfully cleared written examinations, document verification, and other mandatory stages said they are still awaiting the release of provisional and final selection lists. According to candidates, around 15 to 16 examinations have already been conducted, yet provisional lists in many cases remain unpublished.
Firdous, an aspirant, said that even when provisional lists are released, the process remains excessively time-consuming. “There is a mandatory 30-day objection period, and once that is completed, the final list is sent to the Secretariat for approval, which takes another two months,” he said, adding that the drawn-out timelines have caused severe mental and financial stress.
A group of aspirants pointed out that several recruitment notifications remained pending for years before examinations were conducted. Even after completing exams and document verification, many posts continue to remain stalled due to the non-finalization of selection lists.
Highlighting the personal impact of the delays, another aspirant said, “When I applied for the Ecology and Environment post, I was 40 years old. Now I am 44 and still waiting for the final selection list.”
Candidates alleged that recurring delays have raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and efficiency within JKSSB. Over the years, the Board has also faced criticism over examination cancellations, procedural lapses, and repeated postponements, further eroding trust among job seekers.
Shazia, another aspirant, said many candidates have crossed the upper age limit while waiting for selections to be finalized. “There is no clear recruitment calendar or defined timeline. Thousands of educated youth feel jobless and disillusioned,” she said.
The aspirants have demanded immediate strengthening of JKSSB by increasing staff strength and streamlining procedures to fast-track recruitments. They have also sought the intervention of the Chief Minister, urging him to direct the Board to ensure time-bound completion of pending recruitment processes.
Responding to the concerns, an SSRB official said that manpower constraints have affected the pace of recruitments but assured that efforts are underway to revamp and streamline the system. “Pending selections will be expedited, and future recruitment processes will be completed in a time-bound manner,” the official said.