In the context of my review on Arjimand Talib’s book on Omar Abdullah, Prof Ishaq Khan has asserted (Reflections, GK June 21, 2010 ) that during my tenure as Chairman, PSC, interview was made a determining factor for selection of certain categories of posts (other than those based on competitive examinations) and that by doing so justice was denied to brilliant young men and women. Before jumping to this conclusion, an academic of his standing ought to have verified facts and circumstances.
Do I need to remind the learned professor that as soon as I took over the office of Chairman in 2004, the very first thing I did was to reduce the marks for interview for such categories of posts from 71.5% to 50%? I wanted to reduce the marks for interview further, by allocating the corresponding marks for performance based on the screening test held for short-listing of candidates. This suggestion even found mention in the report of the Working Group on Good Governance, constituted by the Prime Minister of India, of which I was a member. Unfortunately, this could not be implemented for reasons I cannot bring into the public domain.
It has to be recognized that large number of candidates apply for limited number of posts and, generally, only 1% to 5 % of the candidates get finally selected. Dissatisfaction and disgruntlement amongst the candidates not selected and their parents and guardians (I do not know whether the Professor himself falls in this category) is, therefore, inherent in the system. Ask the selected candidates, and they will speak for the fairness of the system.
No institution is perfect, nor are humans manning these institutions infallible. During my tenure I assiduously tried to reduce the element of discretion, and thus reduce the scope for manipulation. According to George Bernard Shaw, ‘if there was nothing wrong in the world, there wouldn’t be anything for us to do’.
As regards quoting of my own example with reference to my selection in the top ranks of the IAS list (1969), it was meant to remove the feeling of diffidence prevalent amongst majority of aspirants from Kashmir about their prospects of selection, based on competitive examinations. That Prof Khan sees in it a ‘vainglorious attempt’ at glorifying myself, reflects his extremely prejudiced view, unbecoming of a dignified academic.
Muhammad Shafi Pandit
Former Chairman, J&K PSC
(shafipandit@gmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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