CAT junks plea to defer JKSSB exams

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, has dismissed a batch of applications seeking rescheduling of the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) examinations scheduled later this month.

The petitions, filed separately by four candidates, argued that the JKSSB test dates —August 24 (Junior Engineer Electrical) and August 31 (Junior Engineer Civil) — clashed with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Main Examination being held from August 22 to 31.

The tribunal, however, declined to interfere with the JKSSB schedule, observing that more than 31,000 candidates could not be made to suffer for the inconvenience of four. It further noted that all arrangements for the examinations had been completed and admit cards issued.

“Moreover, interference with the examination process at this stage would cause a huge loss to the public exchequer due to cancellation of various arrangements made for the examination scheduled on August 24 and 31,” the CAT bench comprising Administrative Member Pragya Sahay Saksena and Judicial Member Sanjeev Gupta said in its seven-page order.

The judgement was passed after hearing Senior Additional Advocate General (AAG) Monika Kohli, AAG Rajesh Thapa, AAG Sudesh Magotra and Deputy Advocate General Hunar Gupta for the respondents, and senior advocate Abhinav Sharma, assisted by Abhimanyu Sharma, for the applicants.

Kohli argued that the Junior Engineer (Electrical) examination scheduled for August 24 has 13,034 candidates vying for 292 posts, while the Junior Engineer (Civil) examination on August 31 has 18,885 candidates for 508 posts.

“In contrast to this, the request for postponement of the said examinations has been received from only four candidates (one from JE Civil and three from JE Electrical),” she said, adding that preparations had been completed and admit cards for the JE (Electrical) examination already issued. “Further, printing of stationery, logistics and infrastructure arrangements have been finalised,” she submitted.

Agreeing with the submissions, the CAT said the applicants’ contention that the JKSSB examination dates clashed with the UPSC Main Examination was not a sufficient ground for rescheduling.

The bench also referred to a Supreme Court judgement, noting that the two examinations were of “a different nature and different levels”.