Public Service Commission headless for nearly 3 weeks

Jammu Tawi, Sep 04: The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has remained headless for nearly three weeks, rendering the constitutional body virtually non-functional.

The Commission, mandated to conduct recruitment for gazetted posts, has been without a chairperson since August 15, 2026, when Arun Kumar Choudhary, a former IPS officer, completed his term as Chairman.

“The Commission’s functioning has been severely hampered due to the absence of a chairperson as it cannot take key decisions on the recruitment process,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

He explained that legally the Commission comprises a chairperson and other members. “So, it is clear that in absence of a Chairperson, the Commission cannot discharge its key functions,” he said.

Officials pointed out that the Government has powers to appoint an Acting Chairperson to ensure normal functioning. Article 316(1A) of the Constitution of India states: “If the office of the Chairman of the Commission becomes vacant or if any such Chairman is by reason of absence or for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office, those duties shall, until some person appointed under clause (1) to the vacant office has entered on the duties thereof or, as the case may be, until the Chairman has resumed his duties, be performed by such one of the other members of the Commission as the President, in the case of the Union Commission or a Joint Commission, and the Governor of the State in the case of a State Commission, may appoint for the purpose.”

At present, the Commission is left with only two Members -Dr. Rajiv Singh and Asaf Mehmood Sagar.