The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Srinagar Bench, has ordered the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) to respond within ten days to a re-examination plea. An aspirant, Syed Mudawar Shamus, missed the December 7 JKPSC Preliminary examination due to nationwide IndiGo flight disruptions.
Aspirant Misses Crucial Exam
Syed Mudawar Shamus planned to appear for Paper-I of the JKPSC Preliminary examination. He was scheduled to travel from Hyderabad to Baramulla, Srinagar. However, severe flight disruptions on the day of travel prevented him from reaching his assigned examination center on time.
Missing the exam resulted in the forfeiture of his attempt. Shamus contends that the circumstances were entirely beyond his control. He seeks either the setting aside of the entire December 7 preliminary examination or a special re-examination specifically for candidates affected by such widespread flight cancellations and delays.
Challenging JKPSC Actions and Constitutional Rights
The plea filed by Shamus directly challenges the JKPSC’s conduct of the examination under these circumstances. It argues that the commission’s actions were arbitrary. The petition asserts these actions violated Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality, equal opportunity in public employment, and protection of life and personal liberty, respectively.
Shamus urged the commission to acknowledge his case as an exceptional circumstance. He requested permission to either reappear in Paper-I or be considered for the subsequent stage of the selection process, contingent upon his merit if a re-exam is not granted.
CAT Issues Directives to JKPSC
The tribunal passed its order on December 17 , in response to an original application filed by Syed Mudawar Shamus. During the hearing, counsel representing the JKPSC accepted the notice regarding the plea. They formally requested additional time to prepare and submit a detailed response.
CAT granted the commission a strict deadline of ten days to submit its comprehensive reply. This timeline underscores the tribunal’s intent for a prompt resolution.
Beyond the primary response, CAT has issued further directives. The JKPSC must officially record and provide details on the exact number of candidates who could not appear in the examination because of IndiGo flight disruptions. This data will be crucial for understanding the scale of the issue.
The commission has also been instructed to clarify whether any specific action was taken concerning a prior representation submitted by the applicant, Syed Mudawar Shamus, before his tribunal filing.
Furthermore, the tribunal sought JKPSC’s official response on a broader plea. This involves framing clear guidelines to manage examinations during nationwide emergencies. These include large-scale travel disruptions that impact candidates’ ability to reach their designated examination centers.
Next Steps and Future Hearing
The Central Administrative Tribunal has scheduled the case for its next hearing. The matter will be further heard on December 29, 2025 , and is listed under the admission category. This date marks the next opportunity for the parties to present their arguments and for the tribunal to consider the JKPSC’s response.