Jammu, Jan 12 (JKNS): The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday issued a series of orders assigning interim and additional charges to key education posts and reconstituting the Search Committee for the appointment of the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) and the Director of the Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (JKSCERT).
As per a notification issued by the General Administration Department (Services), and accessed by news agency JKNS, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, JKAS, presently serving as Secretary, JKBOSE, has been entrusted with the interim charge of Chairman, JKBOSE, in addition to his own duties.
The order, issued under sub-section (1) of Section 12 of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Act, 1975, states that Sheikh shall discharge the functions of the Chairman until further orders.
The post of JKBOSE Chairman has remained vacant for a prolonged period.
In a separate order, the government assigned the additional charge of Director, JKSCERT to Mr. Naseem Javaid Chowdhary, JKAS, who is currently serving as Director, School Education, Jammu. The order states that Chowdhary will hold the additional responsibility alongside his existing duties in the interest of administration until further orders.
Meanwhile, in supersession of Government Order No. 163-JK(GAD) of 2025 dated January 30, 2025, the government has reconstituted the Search Committee for recommending panels for the appointment of the Chairperson, JKBOSE, and the Director, JKSCERT.
According to the order, the Administrative Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, will serve as Chairman of the Search Committee. Other members include the Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Administrative Secretary, General Administration Department; Administrative Secretary, Higher Education Department; and Administrative Secretary, School Education Department.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir have also been included as members of the committee. The committee will be serviced by the School Education Department and has been directed to submit its recommendations in a time-bound manner.
The interim arrangement for the post of JKBOSE Chairman comes against the backdrop of a nearly one-year-long vacancy following the completion of the tenure of former Chairman Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas. During this period, the Board functioned under temporary arrangements, raising concerns over administrative delays, particularly during crucial phases such as result declaration and academic planning.
The issue gained urgency as JKBOSE prepared to declare the Class 10th and 12th winter zone examination results. In the absence of a regular Chairman, the Education Department opted for administrative approval of results.
Earlier speaking exclusively to JKNS Education Miniater Sakina Itoo has said that JKBOSE will declare results of both class 10th and 12th on Wednesday January 14.
She further stated that the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) had been constituted and would meet under the supervision of the Secretary JKBOSE, with results to be cleared administratively instead of being approved by the Chairman.
The prolonged vacancy had drawn criticism from students, parents, and political quarters, with repeated demands for the appointment of a permanent Chairman to ensure smooth and timely functioning of the Board.
Officials said the latest interim arrangement is being viewed as a stop-gap measure until a regular appointment is finalized.
After the previous Chairman’s tenure ended, a Search Committee was constituted in December 2024 and a panel of candidates was recommended. However, the panel could not be processed within the stipulated time and subsequently lapsed.
Although a fresh administrative exercise was later initiated and the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet reportedly approved a name for the post, the appointment process has remained pending at official levels, delaying final approval. (JKNS)
