By Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (PSC), responsible for selecting candidates for gazetted posts in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, faces a significant challenge as Zubair Ahmed Raza, its eighth retiring member in the last three and a half years, is set to retire on January 10, 2024.
Appointed to the Jammu and Kashmir PSC on June 24, 2020, Raza, a former judge, played a crucial role as one of the initial appointments after the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories and the formation of a new commission.
Upon Raza’s retirement, the Jammu and Kashmir PSC will be reduced to a single member, Tariq Ahmad Khan, a former Director General of Planning, who is also due to retire in the coming months.
Following the operationalisation of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh UTs on October 31, 2019, the restructuring of the Public Service Commission (PSC) occurred. In November 2019, former Jammu and Kashmir state PSC Chairman Lateef-uz-Zaman Deva, along with all sitting members, received instructions to abstain from visiting and holding office. Satish Chandra assumed the role of the reconstituted PSC’s first Chairman in June 2020, nearly seven months later.
The list of retirements from the reconstituted Commission includes former judge Syed Iqbal Aga on January 15, 2022; Samir Bharti, a retired Indian Forest Service officer, on January 28, 2022; Subhash Gupta on March 28, 2022; Prof Showkat Ahmad Zargar on April 3, 2022; retired IAS officer and incharge Chairman Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone on June 1, 2022; engineer Desraj on December 15, 2022; retired IGP Syed Ahfadul Mujtaba on February 11, 2023; and Chairman Satish Chandra on November 19, 2023.
Since then, no progress has been made in appointing a new Chairman for the commission, and the roles of its members remain vacant. Consequently, all tests and other recruitment processes at the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), responsible for selecting candidates for gazetted jobs in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, have come to a standstill.
The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has remained without leadership since the retirement of Chairman Satish Chandra on November 19, 2023. Chandra, originally from Andhra Pradesh, assumed the position in June 2022, with eligibility to serve until the age of 62 years.
According to a JKPSC official, the absence of a chairman has posed challenges to the effective functioning of the department. With only two members currently, and one set to retire this week, the situation is becoming increasingly problematic. The last remaining member is also expected to retire in the coming months.
Regarding the delays in examinations, another JKPSC official explained that the primary cause is the absence of a chairman. The chairman holds the authority to make decisions related to examinations, and the current void in leadership is not only impacting the department’s operations but also causing concerns among students. The early appointment of a new chairman and members is seen as crucial to expedite the commission’s work.
As per the latest announcement, examinations originally scheduled between December 24, 2023, and January 28, 2024, have been indefinitely postponed.
A notification from the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) issued on December 15, advises candidates to remain prepared for potential rescheduling on short notice at the commission’s discretion.
Expressing concern, many aspirants spoke to Kashmir Life about the mental stress caused by the delay in the recruitment process.
Numerous candidates are awaiting their appointments as Assistant Professors in various subjects within the Higher Education Department (HED), a process stalled due to the retirement of the JKPSC chairman.
Former Minister and Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) Chairman Hakeem Yaseen has urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to promptly appoint a new JKPSC Chairman, a position vacant since November. Yaseen stated in a press release that the absence of a chairman has significantly hampered the PSC’s operations, resulting in uncertainty regarding its examinations. He highlighted the rescheduling of several exams, therefore.
The PDF Chairman advised LG Manoj Sinha to nominate a qualified individual as the Chairman of JKPSC without delay. This appointment is deemed essential to facilitate the smooth conduct of examinations across various categories, ensuring the security of aspirants’ prospects.
