After college principals, Govt fills vacant ZEO posts; stakeholders urge for filling of Headmasters, lecturers posts

Srinagar, May 19: In a significant development, the School Education Department (SED) has ordered placement of headmasters as in-charge Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) across education zones of Jammu and Kashmir.

The move comes days after the government ordered placement of principals in headless Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir. This newspaper earlier carried a series of stories regarding the vacant positions of the principals in GDCs besides vacant positions of ZEOs, headmasters and higher secondary principals.

Minister for education earlier told Greater Kashmir that the government was working to fill all the vacant positions in schools, colleges and zonal offices as well. “Since our government was formed, we held several DPC meetings which were followed by promotions and placement of officers as CEOs and principals. There was a huge liability as the posts were lying vacant for the last four years,” she told Greater Kashmir. On Tuesday, School Education Department ordered placement of 256 headmasters and equivalent as in-charge Zonal Education Officers and equivalent. “Sanction is hereby accorded to the placement of following Headmasters and equivalent as in-charge Zonal Education Officers and equivalent, in their own pay and grade, with charge allowance, as admissible under rules, with immediate effect till the posts are filled up on regular basis by DPC/PSC,” reads an order issued by Commissioner Secretary SED Ram Niwas Sharma.

“The placement shall not confer any preferential claim or right to the officer for seeking regularization/confirmation, which shall be considered strictly as per rules by DPC/JKPSC,” it reads. As per the order, the placement shall be subject to the outcome of writ petition(s), if any, pending before any competent Court(s) of law. “The officers shall submit an undertaking to the concerned CEO stating therein that in case his/her service particulars/academic credentials are found fake/forged/tampered or issued by an unrecognized University, his/her placement shall be deemed to have been cancelled ab-initio,” it reads.

The order reads that in case of an adverse report against any officer regarding the work and conduct and integrity, his/her placement shall be deemed to have been cancelled, ab-initio. “The assignment is purely temporary, and in academic interest and in the interest of administration,” the order reads.

The officers placed as in-charge ZEOs have been asked to report to the concerned Chief Education Officers (CEOs) within 10 days from the date of issuance of this order. “In case of failure to join within the stipulated period, his/her placement shall be deemed to have been cancelled ab-initio without any further notice,” the SED order reads.

Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) has expressed its gratitude to minister for education Sakina Itoo, Commissioner secretary SED Ram Niwas Sharma and both the directors for filling up all vacancies of ZEOs J&K UT. “The move will surely help to improve the work culture and definitely benefit the student community,” Provincial president JKTF Javid Ahmad Bhat said. He said that the absence of DDOs severely hampered official work. The forum further appealed to the education minister to fulfill other vacancies of CEOs, DIET Principals, Higher Secondary Principals,  Headmasters and Lectures on a fast-track basis “so that the institutions may not suffer any more.”