THE slot of Public Service Commission Chairman (PSC) fell vacant due to completion of tenure of the preceding PSC eight months ago. Such institutions ought to be made functional without any loss of time. Earlier governments used to exploit such opportunities for nepotism and political accommodation. This time, although some delay occurred, but the decision taken by the Prime Minister has compensated the delay with the establishment of an ideal PSC based purely on merit and absolute impartiality. There seems no interference of political gain by making the composition above board and with minimum strength but admirable quality.
The PSC has suffered serious setbacks in the past, although the selection of Chairman and members was not below standard as the earlier Chairmen also held so high a profile as Chief Justice of Supreme Court, a Lt. General, and an Air Marshal. Their selections, however, were tarnished by nepotism and political accommodation. The high ranks and large membership were of no use for the nation except disbursing high pay, perks and privileges. That is why some of the Chairmen and members were prematurely removed with unhealthy remarks of inefficiency because they had badly failed to select candidates in time, and the vacancies in departments caused irreparable loss to government performance in addition to the fact that ad-hoc appointees also suffered the pain and torture of uncertainty of career despite their satisfactory output. The ad-hoc appointees were blackmailed for seeking extension after every six months. It should be borne in mind that ad-hoc employees are appointed under the legal provisions of Civil Servants Acts, 1976, as a stop gap arrangement.
Ad-hoc appointees, facing career uncertainty due to faults of the PSC, should be treated sympathetically. Justice demands giving due weight to their ad-hoc service, such as allocating one mark for every five years in their interview. Examples of victimization exist, like an ad-hoc lady lecturer in Muzaffarabad with 14 years of service, transferred multiple times, revealing the PSC’s inefficiency. Political authorities exploited delays in candidate selection, attempting to bypass the PSC’s jurisdiction twice. In 1992, a law regularizing ad-hoc appointees was challenged and declared discriminatory by the High Court and Supreme Court. About 600 regularized ad-hoc employees were removed, and 34 officers’ permanent appointments were set aside. In 2021, a similar law was enacted but remains unimplemented.
In circumstances narrated above it is a matter of great satisfaction that PSC has been reconstituted and a constitutional body has been restored. The reconstitution is apparently commendable due to the manifest qualities of merit and impartiality. It has generated a hope and confidence in young qualified candidates of AJK. The Chairman and the members each have his distinct credentials and selection is above board free from political motive rather national cause has been kept in view.
The selection of the Chairman, Lt. General (Retd) Hadayat-ur-Rehman, a resident of Bonji area, Astore, GB, has been appreciated by all segments of society. His appointment reminds the golden tenure of Col.Mirza Hassan Khan, who held the position of Defence Secretary in AJK when Azad Kashmir Regular Forces (AKRF) had not yet been merged in Pakistan Army. Col.Mirza has left a heroic history. AJK can never forget the supreme sacrifice of Col.Kazim Shaheed, Sitara-e-Jurrat, of 12 AK, martyred in Comilla sector. While he was leaving from Muzaffarabad for his destination he told his great mother, “You are making preparations for my marriage and I am going for Nishan-e-Haider”.
Incumbent Chairman of PSC can contribute to bridge up the brotherly relations of two units of administration. The CPEC route which has been planned to pass through Astore to Kel and Muzaffarabad can be expedited which could be beneficial for both units. Besides, the students of GB are studying books of Punjab Text Book Board, could utilize the services of AJK Text Book Board as both units have common background of history, geography, culture and, above all, a common goal of liberation of Kashmir.
The failure of PSC to make prompt selection of suitable candidates is partly due to cumbersome selection process adopted by the Commission, who have been subjecting every post and each candidate for any vacancy to a written test which obviously consumes a lot of time. Whereas the law requires a written test only for the posts of AC/ASP/ACF and Sub judge for which syllabus for written test has been notified by the government. Law does not prescribe written test for the post of Doctors, Engineers, Lecturers and similar other posts for which no syllabus has been enforced. These categories of posts should be selected on the basis of academic records and interview for which prescribed proforma is available with the PSC.
—The writer is Retired Additional Chief Secretary and Advocate Supreme Court of AJK.
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views expressed are writer’s own.
