KAS-2016 aspirants protest against ‘financial irregularities’ of JKPSC

Srinagar, Jan 24: The KAS-2016 aspirants on Thursday staged a protest against alleged mass financial irregularities’ by Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC).

The protesting aspirants chanting slogans against JKPSC were demanding Governor and Chief Justice to investigate the financial irregularities going on in JKPSC and to provide them with the legal aid in the process of fighting against the same agency.

Recalling the chain of events, a protestor, Imran Nabi speaking with the Kashmir Monitor said, “On 4th December, 2018 JKPSC declared the results of KAS mains 2016 and aggrieved aspirants approached the commission with complaints. However, the commission turned down their grievances.”

“Then we came on roads to get our voices heard. Finally, we approached HC through PIL route as we didn’t had financial resources to file a writ petition,” he added.

Expressing gratitude to Chief Justice, Nabi said, “Chief Justice (CJ) was kind enough, who took Suo Moto cognizance of their PIL and stayed the interview process of KAS examination.”

However, JKPSC challenged the HC order in the Supreme Court (SC). It paid an amount of Rs 15-20 lakhs to Shyam Diwanan, an  expert in civil matters, revealed Nabi.

The protestors were questioned for why JKPSC instead of using State resources, hired a private counsel only to put an unwanted burden on State exchequer.

“Where from JKPSC took the money? Why JKPSC have not appeared with their counsel who is paid by the state in SC? What is the purpose of having state lawyers if JKPSC resorts to hiring private lawyers? When state is reeling under financial stress and not going for any public expenditure should JKPSC not be held accountable for financial irregularities? When the budget for 2017-18 has approved only 5.25 lakhs and JKPSC spent Rs Rs 78,9500 as legal fees. In financial year 2016-17, the legal budget was Rs 7 lakhs and commission spent Rs 14,70,300 as legal expenses. Why this loot of public money by JKPSC and why there is no financial audit on JKPSC spending?” another aspirant Hamid Ahmad questioned.

Seeking the intervention of governor Satya Pal Malik and Chief Justice (CJ) of J&K, Justice Geeta Mittal, the aggrieved KAS aspirants asked for thorough investigation into the financial irregularities.

“The expediency shown by the JKPSC to expedite the particular litigation has raised apprehensions among us. Where from it brought the money that was paid to the lawyer. We believe the money was arranged by some corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, lawyers, etc whose wards are figuring in the interview list,”said Bashir Ahmad.

The aggrieved KAS aspirants said that despite filing several RTIs, the information pertaining to the expenses incurred on the scanning process and digital evaluation of KAS mains 2016 was  not provided to them by the commission.

“It is unfortunate that JKPSC has been doing irregular activities. Controller examination is there to conduct the examination,” they added.