Chandigarh: The city's municipal corporation (MC) has launched a major recruitment campaign to hire more than 270 permanent employees, moving to address a critical staffing shortage that has left 60% of sanctioned roles vacant.
The civic body has submitted a formal proposal to the Union Territory administration for approval to advertise the posts. If greenlit, the move would mark the first significant permanent recruitment exercise for the city since 2021. The recruitment push comes as internal records reveal a staggering vacancy rate within the council. Out of 5,611 sanctioned positions, 3,767 currently remain unfilled.
In a letter to the local govt department, the MC warned that these vacancies are "adversely affecting day-to-day operations and delivery of public services." The authority stressed that permanent staff are essential for the smooth functioning of various wings, including engineering, fire services, and health.
Independent Oversight
The proposed intake of 272 personnel spans several levels of government service, with the bulk of the roles designated for administrative and emergency services. To ensure transparency and avoid internal interference, the Municipal Corporation has outsourced the entire examination and selection process.
The University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS) at Panjab University will act as the recruiting agency. "The MC will not play any role in this entire exercise," a senior official confirmed, noting that once the administration provides final approval, Panjab University will handle the advertisements and testing independently.
Context: The 2021 Precedent
The last major recruitment drive in 2021 sought to fill 170 permanent positions, a process that took over a year to complete. Authorities are hopeful that the current proposal will be fast-tracked to mitigate the mounting pressure on existing staff and improve city-wide service delivery.
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Deepak Yadav is an assistant editor who has been with The Times o...
Read MoreDeepak Yadav is an assistant editor who has been with The Times of India since 2007. He covers Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, matters related to local bodies and political affairs of Chandigarh. He has also covered Chandigarh administration, crime and central agencies
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