Ladakh dismantles restrictive service rule as LG Vinai Kumar Saxena clears path for qualified employees to compete for higher posts

A contentious service rule that effectively blocked qualified government employees from advancing within the system has been withdrawn in Ladakh. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday ordered the immediate removal of the provision, bringing an end to a restriction that had long limited career progression within government service according to media reports.

The decision marks a significant administrative shift, as it restores access to graduate-level recruitment for employees who had been excluded despite holding higher educational qualifications. The order comes into force immediately, according to an official statement.

Barrier to advancement removed

The scrapped provision had barred employees—despite possessing graduate or higher degrees—from applying to graduate-level government posts if they had entered service through Class 10 or Class 12 eligibility. The restriction created a rigid ceiling within the administrative structure, limiting mobility irrespective of an employee’s academic 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 hold higher qualifications. This declaration later became a basis for exclusion, disqualifying them from future recruitment processes for posts that matched their actual educational attainments.

Move follows sustained representations

Officials indicated that the decision was taken after the Lieutenant Governor’s office received multiple representations from affected employees. The submissions pointed to a structural inconsistency, where the system effectively invalidated higher education once an individual entered service through a lower qualification bracket.

Provision termed restrictive by administration

In the official assessment, Saxena described the rule as “unjustified” and “restrictive,” noting that it curtailed the right of employees to compete for positions aligned with their qualifications. The review concluded that the provision imposed an unnecessary limitation within the recruitment framework.

Eligibility widened for existing workforce

With the order now in force, all existing government employees in Ladakh—including those who had previously submitted affidavits—are eligible to apply for graduate-level posts, subject to prescribed conditions. The decision is expected to benefit a large number of employees working in roles such as Orderly and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), particularly in a region where government employment remains a primary source of livelihood.