Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to an important issue affecting a group of long-serving contingency staff with regard to the eligibility criteria for Combined Limited Departmental Competition Examination (CLDCE) for the post of lower division clerk (LDC) to be conducted by the APSSB, vide Advt No APSSB-13/3/2026/821, dated 28/01/2026.
As per the existing rules, contingency staffers are required to complete a minimum of 12 years of continuous service to be eligible for appearing in the limited departmental competition examination. However, there are many skilled contingency staffers who have already rendered more than 11 years of sincere and dedicated service but are being denied the opportunity solely due to a shortfall of a few months in the prescribed service length despite fulfilling all other eligibility criteria.
These employees have gained substantial experience in clerical and administrative work over the years and possess the required skills and institutional knowledge to perform efficiently as LDCs. Denying them eligibility on such a marginal technical ground not only affects their morale but also overlooks their longstanding contribution to the department. Besides, this combined limited departmental competition examination is the first of its kind, which appears as the only hope for those aspiring contingency staffers who have been serving from so many years in various departments without any chance of getting regularised, but through this exam one has the last resort to get a permanent job.
Thus, in the interest of fairness and natural justice, it is humbly requested that the competent authority consider granting a one-time relaxation or revisit the eligibility criteria to allow skilled contingency staffers who have completed more than 11 years of service to appear in the limited departmental recruitment examination. Such a step would go a long way in ensuring equitable treatment and motivating the workforce.
I sincerely hope that this genuine concern will receive due consideration from the authorities concerned.
A concerned employee