Srinagar, Sep 24 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that recruitment to the posts of Dental Surgeons has not been referred to the concerned recruitment agency due to the availability of surplus dental surgeons and financial considerations, while indicating that fresh recruitment will be considered after the withdrawal of the ongoing austerity measures.
The government said this in response to a question raised by MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan, who sought details about the reasons for the delay in referring sanctioned vacant posts of Dental Doctors to the concerned recruitment agency and whether the government proposed to initiate the recruitment process.
In its reply, the Health and Medical Education Department, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), stated that recruitment to the posts of Dental Surgeons is undertaken subject to the availability of substantive vacancies.
The department further said that a number of Dental Surgeons are already working in Jammu and Kashmir against supernumerary posts, resulting in surplus manpower in the cadre.
“Thus, the non-referral of the posts is not due to abandonment of the recruitment process, but is based on the availability of vacant posts and financial prudence,” it said.
On the future recruitment of Dental Surgeons, the government said that a proposal for the creation of posts would be worked out after assessing the actual manpower requirements and identifying gaps, if any.
It said the proposal would be processed once the austerity measures imposed under Government Order No. 198-F of 2026 dated May 22, 2026, are withdrawn.
The response indicates that the government currently does not intend to proceed with fresh recruitment merely on the basis of sanctioned or vacant positions, but will first assess the actual requirement of dental manpower and the availability of substantive vacancies.
On the assistance available to Dental Doctors intending to establish their own private clinics in J&K, the government said it provides the necessary regulatory and facilitation framework in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and standards.
The department said doctors seeking to establish private dental clinics are required to fulfil prescribed conditions relating to registration, professional qualifications, premises, biomedical waste management, patient safety and other statutory requirements.
Eligible Dental Doctors are required to obtain necessary registrations and permissions from the competent authorities before establishing and operating their clinics, it said.
The government clarified that the Health and Medical Education Department does not ordinarily provide direct financial assistance for setting up private dental clinics, unless such assistance is specifically covered under a government scheme or programme.
However, concerned regulatory authorities facilitate applicants in completing the prescribed procedures and obtaining necessary permissions and registrations, the government said—(KNO)