Srinagar, Aug. 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has drawn criticism from the academic community after issuing Advertisement Notification No. 05 of 2026 for the recruitment of Assistant Professors in Government Degree Colleges without advertising a single post in the discipline of Sociology. The notification includes vacancies in several subjects but excludes Sociology, despite claims by scholars that nearly 143 Assistant Professor (Sociology) posts are lying vacant across Government Degree Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir.
The omission has disappointed hundreds of NET, SET and PhD-qualified Sociology aspirants who have been awaiting recruitment for several years. Academicians argue that the continued non-filling of vacancies has weakened teaching, research, student mentoring and the overall academic environment in colleges, forcing institutions to rely heavily on contractual arrangements.
Dr. Mubarak Ahmed, a PhD scholar, expressed deep concern over the exclusion of the subject from the latest recruitment notification.
“The exclusion of Sociology from the recruitment process is deeply discouraging for hundreds of young scholars who have devoted years to academic excellence. Sociology is indispensable for understanding contemporary social challenges, public policy and community development. Ignoring such a vital discipline despite a large number of vacancies sends an unfortunate message to aspiring researchers and educators.”
Similarly, Dr. Mir Shani, a PhD scholar, urged the authorities to rectify the omission without delay.
“The Higher Education Department and JKPSC should ensure equitable representation of all academic disciplines in recruitment. The reported vacancies in Sociology deserve immediate attention, as prolonged delays not only affect deserving candidates but also compromise the quality of higher education and social science research in Jammu and Kashmir. We sincerely hope that a supplementary notification will be issued at the earliest.”
Several aspirants questioned the rationale behind excluding Sociology while initiating recruitment in other disciplines. They urged the Higher Education Department to immediately refer all vacant Sociology posts to the JKPSC so that recruitment can be conducted through a transparent, merit-based selection process.
Educationists believe that filling these vacancies is essential for strengthening higher education, promoting quality research, implementing the objectives of the National Education Policy, and ensuring uninterrupted teaching in Government Degree Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir.
The scholars have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, the Higher Education Department and the JKPSC to take immediate cognizance of the issue and issue a supplementary advertisement incorporating all vacant Sociology posts so that deserving candidates are not deprived of long-awaited employment opportunities.
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