Muzaffarabad (Azadi Times) – The Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ordered the removal of all employees of the AJK Public Service Commission (PSC) ranging from grades 4 to 20. This decision came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Abdul Basir Tajur against the Azad Government and the Public Service Commission.
The petition raised concerns about alleged alterations and irregularities in the answer copies of candidates during Public Service Commission examinations. Chief Justice of the High Court and Justice Sardar Muhammad Ijaz Khan presided over the hearing, during which the reply copies were thoroughly examined. Subsequently, upon finding irregularities and alterations, the Public Service Commission was directed to dismiss all employees and officers from grades four to twenty and replace them with officers from other departments.
The Supreme Court, in its decision, highlighted that a crucial institution like the Public Service Commission has lost its credibility and failed to maintain transparency. The general public and intellectuals have raised questions regarding the irregularities within the Commission.
The Supreme Court further ordered that the papers of recent examinations should be re-evaluated by distinguished professors from the University of Azad Kashmir to ensure transparency.
Concerns about the transparency of the commission have been expressed by candidates for a considerable period. Alterations in examination papers were reported to be common, with instances of sheets being tampered with to favor certain individuals. Some employees of the PSC were accused of engaging in bargaining during the examinations of District Education Officers, leading to the success of ineligible candidates. This compromised the integrity of the examination process, with qualified candidates’ papers being tampered with and sheets removed.
Abdul Basir Tajur, a resident of Neelam, sought justice by approaching the High Court, which subsequently called for the examination papers. The illegal actions and irregularities of the PSC were established, leading to yesterday’s verdict where the bench, consisting of the Chief Justice of the High Court and Justice Ijaz, ordered the Secretary of Services to transfer all PSC employees. Simultaneously, they instructed to have the examination papers re-evaluated by a qualified professor from the University of Azad Kashmir.
Renowned jurist Huzoor Imam Kazmi appeared in this case, representing Abdul Basir Tajur.
