A controversial service rule in Ladakh that effectively barred eligible civil servants from advancing within the system has been withdrawn. Lt. Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena on Saturday ordered the immediate removal of the condition, lifting a ban that has long limited career advancement within the civil service, according to media reports.The decision marks a significant administrative change, as it restores access to graduate-level recruitment for employees who were excluded despite having higher academic qualifications. According to an official statement, the order is effective immediately.
Obstacles to progress were removed.
The repealed provision barred employees from applying for graduate level government posts despite having a graduate or higher degree if they entered the service through a Class 10 or Class 12 qualification. This ban created a strict boundary within the management structure, limiting employee mobility regardless of educational credentials.
Affidavit clause enforced exclusion
Central to the rule was a mandatory affidavit. At the time of recruitment, candidates were required to declare that they did not have higher qualifications. This declaration later became grounds for expulsion, disqualifying him from future recruitment processes for positions that matched his actual academic achievements.
After the transfer continuous representation
Officials indicated that the decision was taken after the Lt Governor’s office received several representations from affected employees. The submissions pointed to structural inconsistencies, where the system effectively invalidated higher education after an individual entered the service through lower merit lines.
Provision declared restricted by management
In the official review, Saxena described the rule as “unfair” and “restrictive”, noting that it curtailed the right of employees to compete for positions according to their qualifications. The review concluded that this provision imposed an unnecessary limitation within the recruitment framework.
Eligibility widened for existing workforce.
With the decree now in force, all existing civil servants in Ladakh — including those who submitted affidavits earlier — are eligible to apply for graduate-level posts with prescribed conditions. The decision is expected to benefit a large number of employees working in roles such as orderlies and multi-tasking staff (MTS), especially in the region where government employment remains the main source of livelihood.
