Both IAS and IPS officers are aghast over the lack of recognition for executing the critical J&K assignment. In the aftermath of DG empanelment of 1985 batch IPS officers, it has become a talking point that the J&K assignment/deputation doesn't bring any reward even though the job is categorized as 'hard posting'. It is being talked that though many deserving senior IPS officers failed to find themselves on the DG empanelment list, the exclusion of S N Srivastava (IPS:1985:UT) may have shaken the confidence of his junior batch officers who are next in line for empanelment. It is pointed out that Srivastava handled the ultra-sensitive assignment of J&K well but failed to make it to the empanelment list despite having more than three years in hand to retire. In CRPF, ADG (Raipur) and ADG (J&K) are considered 'high-risk' postings. Srivastava's exclusion goes against the grain that if one gets an important and sensitive assignment, one's future is paved. Like Srivastva, the non-empanelment of Gyanesh Kumar (IAS:1988: KL) who has been handling J&K desk in the Union Home Ministry, has added to the apprehensions of senior civil servants about J&K assignments.