Srinagar, Mar 6: Expressing concern over the growing migration of skilled professionals from Jammu and Kashmir, President of the District Congress Committee Srinagar, Dr Audil Farooq Mir, on Friday said that governance failures and administrative uncertainty were increasingly pushing talented youth to seek opportunities outside the region.
In a statement, Mir said Jammu and Kashmir has long been recognised for producing some of the finest minds in fields such as medicine, engineering, research and public administration. However, he said many of the brightest professionals now see their future outside the system they once aspired to serve.
He said the growing brain drain is not merely driven by global opportunities or better salaries elsewhere but is often the result of “policy ambiguity, administrative indifference and inconsistent interpretations of governance frameworks.”
Mir said a troubling pattern has emerged where highly qualified professionals entering public service through transparent and merit-based recruitment processes pursue higher education or specialised training with due permission from authorities, only to face administrative hurdles upon their return.
“Administrative interpretations change, earlier permissions are questioned and professionals find themselves navigating a labyrinth of bureaucratic hurdles that should never exist in a system that claims to promote excellence,” he said.
According to Mir, in some cases professionals have had to approach judicial or quasi-judicial forums to secure routine professional placements required to complete their training. He also alleged that there have been instances where judicial orders directing the release of salaries or entitlements remained unimplemented for long periods.
He said such situations were not merely administrative lapses but indicated deeper systemic issues in governance.
“The consequences extend beyond individual hardship. When young professionals witness merit being overshadowed by bureaucratic delay, it sends a damaging message to society that talent and dedication may not be protected within the system,” Mir said.
He added that many professionals leave not only for higher salaries but also for predictability, professional dignity and institutional fairness.
Mir said while the government often stresses strengthening sectors like healthcare, research and professional services, the professionals capable of strengthening these sectors sometimes remain trapped in administrative uncertainty.
He emphasised that human capital is the most valuable asset of any society and losing trained specialists to migration is a loss for the entire public system.
Calling for reforms, Mir urged the government to ensure clear and uniform policies governing higher education permissions, service obligations, training pathways and institutional postings. He also stressed the need for prompt implementation of judicial and tribunal orders.
