Srinagar, Jul 03 (KNO): The Sheep Husbandry Department of Kashmir is facing criticism for allegedly violating established norms by allowing four junior employees to take their departmental examination and be considered for promotion without completing the mandatory one-year training course.
According to Jammu & Kashmir Sheep Husbandry Department guidelines of 2018, employees such as Stock Assistants, Junior Graders, Junior Wool Shearers, and Junior Laboratory Assistants are required to undergo a compulsory one-year training before they are eligible to sit for internal examinations for promotion to higher grades.
However, in a clear breach of these rules, the department's directorate has permitted four Assistant Stock Men and Multi-tasking staff to appear in the shearing test examination without having completed their training, the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt.
The order, dated June 11, 2025, states: “Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a committee comprising officials for conducting the shearing test of four ASM/MTS officials—Qiesar Manzoor, Amir Shafi, Mehraj Ud Din Chopan, and Shah Anayat Ul Bari.”
Adding to the controversy, the committee tasked with conducting the examination also appears to be in violation of official guidelines. Normally, such committees are to be headed by the Directors of the Sheep Husbandry Department of Kashmir or Jammu, with assistance from the Joint Director (Extension), Principal Training Institute, and Deputy Director of Research. Instead, the order designates Dr Ajay Kumar Sudan, Joint Director Farms, Kashmir, as the committee chairman, alongside junior staff, including a junior epidemiologist, Dr Imran Khawaja, shearing inspector Dr Raheka Rizvi, and master shearer Gaya Din, which has raised concerns over procedural irregularities.
Employees within the department have expressed concerns over the situation, insisting that the examination and subsequent promotions should be halted as they violate established rules.
An official, wishing anonymity, told KNO, “Norms are being openly flouted. How can these employees be eligible for promotion without completing the requisite training? Also, forming a committee without following the prescribed oversight is suspicious. It appears to be biased in favour of certain individuals.”
The staff are now urging Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and ensure transparency in the process.
When contacted, Rafiq Ahmad Shah, Director of Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, acknowledged the issue but claimed he was unaware of the mandatory training requirements. “All promotions and examinations will be reviewed, including this case. The department can now accommodate those whose training was scheduled to begin in May by attaching them to the training section,” he said—(KNO)