Srinagar, Sep 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has been without a chairman for over a month and is functioning with only two members, raising concerns over delays in recruitment examinations, interviews and promotions for gazetted posts.

The post of chairman fell vacant on August 15 following the retirement of A.K. Choudhary, a former IPS officer who was appointed to the post in February 2024. Two members, Yashpal Kotwal and Tariq Ahmad Zargar, had retired in January and June this year, respectively.
The Commission currently has two serving members—Dr Rajiv Singh and Asaf Mehmood Sagar. Its official website also lists Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, JKAS, as Secretary.
The vacancies have raised concerns among aspirants awaiting examination and interview schedules for posts advertised in recent months. Candidates said recruitment processes, including selections for assistant professors, have been affected by the leadership vacuum.
The JKPSC has a sanctioned strength of a chairman and eight members. Despite the vacancies, the Commission continues to issue recruitment-related notices, including recent notifications concerning assistant professor posts in government colleges.
According to the Commission’s 2024-25 annual report, JKPSC recommended 721 candidates for various gazetted posts during 2024-25. The Commission is responsible for conducting competitive examinations and interviews for gazetted services, besides departmental examinations and consultations on recruitment rules and promotion matters.
The prolonged vacancies have triggered demands for early appointment of a chairman and filling of the vacant member positions to ensure that recruitment and promotion processes continue without further uncertainty.
Attempts to obtain comments from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Education and Health Minister Sakina Itoo and Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M Raju, were unsuccessful.