Srinagar, Mar 5: Despite recently advertising several positions, dozens of key administrative and technical posts continue to lie vacant at the University of Kashmir, affecting the smooth functioning of academic and administrative work at the institution.

Sources said important positions including Director of IT & SS, Director of EMMRC, Deputy Director of DIQA and two Assistant Director posts in DIQA have remained unfilled for years. The Director IT & SS position has been vacant for nearly 13 years, with an in-charge director holding the responsibility since 2014.
Similarly, the Director EMMRC post has remained vacant for around seven years, while an in-charge official has been handling the office for the past six years.
Officials said three Deputy Registrar posts at satellite campuses are also lying vacant, impacting administrative functioning.
The shortage extends to the Construction Division, where several posts including four Junior Engineers, two Work Supervisors, two Electricians, one Mechanic, two Linemen, one Head Draftsman and seven Plumbers remain unfilled.
A senior professor said the shortage has weakened monitoring of construction and repair works. “Due to lack of supervision, contractors sometimes use inferior material in civil and electrical works,” the professor said.
Clerical staff shortages are also affecting departments, with around 90 Junior Assistant posts currently vacant, forcing some Heads of Departments to perform clerical duties themselves.
University insiders said that while the institution has expanded significantly over the past two decades with new departments and satellite campuses, the staff strength has largely remained unchanged.
They also warned that more than 300 employees are expected to retire within the next two years, which could further strain the university’s functioning if timely recruitment is not carried out.
Aspirants have urged the Chancellor of the University to intervene and direct authorities to fast-track recruitment for non-teaching and technical posts, stating that filling these vacancies would improve administrative efficiency and provide opportunities to job seekers.
When contacted, Registrar Kashmir University Dr Naseer Iqbal said that the university has already initiated the process to address the staff shortage.
“Some posts have already been advertised and more vacancies will be notified within the next week. Even those posts that will fall vacant after the retirement of employees will be filled up,” Iqbal said.
He added that some posts advertised in 2023 are currently stuck in court after certain candidates obtained stay orders, but the university administration is making efforts to resolve the legal issues so that the recruitment process can move forward.