Srinagar, Aug 21: In a glaring example of Jammu dictating terms to the Public Service Commission (PSC), the examination of the Accounts Clerk Course (ACC) was Saturday cancelled at the last minute but only after the candidates were “dragged” to the examination centre from across the Valley amid curfew and restrictions.
 The cancellation, the sources said, came after the candidates in Jammu refused to sit in the examination for “unknown reasons.”
 The PSC insiders told Greater Kashmir that the ACC examination scheduled to be held in Srinagar and Jammu on Saturday was postponed after the Jammu candidates held a protest demonstration against the PSC, accusing it of delaying the exams time and again.
 “All of a sudden they (Jammu candidates) refused to sit in the ACC examination. With the result, the examination was postponed in Srinagar where the candidates had reached the SP College examination centre amid curfew and restrictions,” they said.
 Interestingly the 500 odd Valley-based candidates had repeatedly requested the PSC to postpone the exams in view of the turbulent conditions, but the Commission had turned down their request. “We were made to wait in the examination centre for hours together till the PSC announced the exams were postponed,” said a group of candidates, who had visited the examination centre from Islamabad and Varmul districts, where declared curfew was in place.
 “There was no reason to postpone the examination at the eleventh hour. It is unfortunate that we were made to risk our lives amid curfew but the examination was postponed at the behest of Jammu candidates.”
 The Valley candidates said they had arranged transport—bikes, autos and cars—on their own risk and responsibility. “The government must take a serious note of today exam postponement and take the PSC authorities to task,” said Ashiq, an aggrieved candidate. “How can the PSC do this despite knowing the Valley situation very well? If they had to postpone the examination, they should have done it earlier.”
 It is for the second time in the past one week that the PSC has succumbed to pressure from Jammu.
 It has just happened with the interviews for the J&K Civil Service (Judicial) Competitive Examination where the PSC has, of late, decided to hold the examination for Jammu candidates in Jammu only. This comes after the Bhartiya Janata Party raised objection to holding interviews in Srinagar amid curfew.
 According to a notification No. PSC/EXM-10/59 dated 10.08.2010 “the interview of the candidates who have qualified for viva voce test in the J&K Civil Service (Judicial) Competitive examination, 2009 as per Commission Notification No. PSC/EXM-10/54 dated 21.07.2010 is being conducted w.e.f 23.08.2010 to 04.09.2010 at IMPA, M.A Road, Srinagar.”
 But after the BJP cry, the PSC issued another notification (PSC/Exam-10/63 dated: Aug 20, 2010) wherein Jammu was also selected as the venue for the examination.
 While the interviews are to be held for Valley candidates from August 23, for Jammu candidates it was kept from August 26.
 It has been reliably learnt that the decision to postpone examinations, change interview venues are taken without consulting the PSC members. “We don’t know how it has happened. The PSC chairman must know it better,” said three PSC members, insisting not to be named.
 When contacted the PSC chairman, SL Bhat, said, “I think all the candidates from Valley had not reached the examination centre today and that is the main reason we had to postpone it.”
 Asked if the ACC examination was postponed because of Jammu candidates he said, “I don’t think that can be the only reason.”
 Prof Bhat said PSC members were consulted when such decisions were taken. “It is the commission that takes the decisions,” he said. “There is no pressure to us from any party. We are taking decisions keeping in view different parameters.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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