The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday, 28 June firmly rejected allegations of backdoor appointments levelled by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, asserting that all recruitments in government departments are conducted strictly on merit and through established legal channels.

Joint Press Conference by Ruling NC Leaders

To counter the controversy, senior National Conference (NC) leaders — Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo, Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, and Chief Minister's Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani — jointly addressed the media in Srinagar. The coordinated response signals the ruling dispensation's intent to publicly challenge PDP's narrative ahead of any political fallout.

Minister Itoo's Sharp Rebuttal

Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo took pointed aim at Mehbooba Mufti's claim that government jobs are being filled through outsourcing rather than via the Public Service Commission (PSC). 'I feel pity for her intelligence,' Itoo said, adding that it was unfortunate a former Chief Minister remained, in her words, 'ignorant about the recruitment process.'

Itoo clarified that outsourcing is a temporary administrative arrangement adopted solely to meet immediate operational needs and cannot be equated with regular government employment. She specifically noted that youths engaged through outsourcing have been appointed under Centrally sponsored schemes such as Samagra Shiksha and Mission Vatsalya (ICPS) — not through permanent departmental recruitment.

Advisor Wani on Transparency and Legacy

Chief Minister's Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani stated that every recruitment in J&K is carried out through prescribed legal and institutional mechanisms, ensuring fairness and equal opportunity. He pushed back on the outsourcing controversy by tracing its origins to the previous administration. 'Attempts are being made to create unnecessary confusion among the public regarding outsourcing. If you look at its origins, the present system is a legacy we inherited. Like several other issues, this outsourcing mechanism dates back to the previous government,' Wani said.

What the Government's Position Means

The government reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and merit-based recruitment, assuring job aspirants that no appointments are being made outside the established legal framework. Officials maintained that the administration remains focused on a fair and credible recruitment process across all departments.

This is not the first time the J&K government and the PDP have clashed over employment policy — the issue of government jobs and outsourcing has been a recurring flashpoint in post-reorganisation Jammu and Kashmir politics. With unemployment among youth remaining a politically sensitive issue in the Union Territory, such exchanges are likely to intensify as both sides position themselves ahead of future electoral contests.