JKPSC to be reconstituted, to get new Chairman, members

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 22

Ending all speculation, the J&K Union Territory (UT) administration has initiated the process for the reconstitution of J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC), the recruiting body in erstwhile state.

The Commission will get new Chairperson and members and the appointment of the existing Chairman Latief uz Zaman Deva and other members will come to an end.

It may be recalled that the then Governor NN Vohra had a series of discussions on the composition of the Public Service Commission with the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2015.

He had raised questions about the credentials and position of some of the members, including its chairman Latief uz Zaman Deva, who was junior in the state’s bureaucratic hierarchy.

There were others who were recommended to the PSC due to their political connections rather than merit and qualifications for the prestigious institution.

It may be recalled here that the Chief Minister, the political executive head, had administered oath to the PSC members, and not the Governor. Vohra had shown his disagreement with the government’s recommendation of some of the members for the institution.

However, the GAD’s order has created further confusion. As per Section 93 of the J&K reorganisation Act 2019, the JKPSC was to continue to function as the recruiting agency for J&K UT.

Former bureaucrat and member PSC, KB Jandyal, said, “It is a very confusing order. As per Section 93 of the Reorganisation Act, there is no ambiguity over the fact that the PSC will continue to function after J&K ceases to be a State on October 31. Section 93 had protected those appointed.”

As per the Constitution, each state will have a PSC and the recruitment process in the UT will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The Commission has already stopped all examinations and interviews for various posts for now due to confusion over the continuity of the PSC post abrogation of Article 370. This has led to disappointment among thousands of youths who have applied for various posts.