Baramulla, J&K: 14 Feb… ///
Architecture students across Jammu & Kashmir have strongly demanded immediate revision of recruitment rules under the Housing and Urban Development Department, particularly for posts such as Building Inspector, Building Supervisor, and Ward Officer in municipal bodies.
The students stated that these posts exist in Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Committees across various districts and towns, where the primary responsibility of officials is to examine building permissions, verify construction plans, and monitor building regulations.
However, according to the present recruitment rules, the eligibility criteria for these posts is limited to 10th, 10+2 or general graduation, which students say is inappropriate for positions that require technical knowledge of construction, architectural drawings, and planning regulations.
Students pointed out that 3-year Diploma in Architecture holders and Bachelor’s in Architecture graduates are professionally trained in construction planning, building design, drafting, and regulatory standards, making them far more suitable and capable for such posts than candidates with only general educational qualifications.
They further expressed concern that appointing individuals without technical background to these positions has already created serious challenges in regulating construction activities, particularly in cities like Srinagar, where urban development requires professional expertise.
Along with this demand, students also raised the issue of recruitment for Draughtsman posts advertised by Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board, where the eligibility criteria currently restricts the qualification to 2-year ITI in Draughtsman.
The students termed this as an injustice to candidates holding 3-year Diploma in Architecture, stating that the Architecture diploma curriculum already includes the entire Draughtsman ITI syllabus along with additional architectural and construction subjects.
Students who completed their Diploma in Architecture from Government Polytechnic College Baramulla said that hundreds of young people complete these professional courses after years of hard work and financial hardship, yet there are very limited government job opportunities available for them in Jammu & Kashmir.
They also revealed that a formal representation regarding these issues was submitted nearly five years ago at the Jammu Secretariat, where they were informed that the matter could be considered only during the revision of recruitment rules.
With the revision process now underway, the students have renewed their demand that 3-year Diploma in Architecture and Bachelor’s in Architecture candidates must be included in the eligibility criteria for Draughtsman and other construction-related technical posts.
The students urged the government to revise recruitment rules in a fair and practical manner so that technically qualified Architecture diploma holders and graduates can contribute effectively to construction, planning, and urban development across Jammu & Kashmir.
They emphasized that ignoring such qualified professionals not only deprives youth of employment opportunities but also raises serious questions about the purpose of running Architecture courses in government institutions across the region.
Support Independent and Impartial Journalism
Nouk-e-Qalam News is a free and independent journalistic platform. To maintain our ethical standards and avoid obscene advertisements, we have disabled Google Ads. We now rely on your generous financial support to continue our unbiased reporting. Our Writers and readers are kindly urged to contribute—daily, weekly, or monthly. Thank you for standing with truth.
