SRINAGAR, FEB 10: The appointment process for the new Chairman and members of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has hit a deadlock, rendering the body defunct and stalling critical exams and recruitment drives in the Union Territory.
The JKPSC, which is responsible for selecting candidates for all gazetted positions in the union territory, has been functioning without a Chairman since November 19, 2023, when former chairman Satish Chandra completed his term. Additionally, positions of members in the commission remain vacant.
This has brought all examinations, interviews and other recruitment initiatives by the JKPSC to a standstill, directly impacting the hiring process for hundreds of government positions in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Chandra was appointed as Chairman of JKPSC in June 2022 for a term till the age of 62 years. Under his leadership, the commission has postponed all exams slated after November 20, 2023 including the routine and departmental exams scheduled from December 24, 2023 to January 28, 2024.
Additionally, the retirement of member Zubair Ahmad Raza on January 10 has further exacerbate operational issues for the short-staffed commission.
Repeated exam cancellations have left thousands of aspirants in limbo and mental distress. “The abrupt cancellations prove costly for aspirants who have been preparing for these exams for months,” said a group of aspirants.
Officials say appointing a new chairman and members quickly is crucial to resuming pending exams and restoring normalcy. “Early appointments will help us resume exams and notify schedules for new ones,” said an official. For now, uncertainty looms large over JKPSC’s functioning and future exam calendar. Candidates have been advised to stay prepared for exams at short notice even as calls for urgent appointments grow stronger.
