KULDEEP KUMAR Vs. STATE OF J&K

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE dispute in this batch of writ petitions relates to the Combined Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2005, conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission for short listing of candidates for the Main Examination for making selection in respect of the posts in combined services of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

(2.) THE State Government referred 132 posts for the combined services to the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) for making selection of candidates for direct recruitment on the basis of Combined Competitive Examination. Procedure for conducting the Combined Competitive Examination is governed by the rules framed under SRO 161 dated 17 July 1995. The rules envisage Combined Competitive Examination consist of two successive stages.

(3.) THE Preliminary Examination consists of two papers - - (i) compulsory paper of General Studies and (ii) optional subject to be opted by the candidates out of 22 specified subjects set out in Appendix -IX of the rules. This examination is meant to serve only as a screening test and the marks obtained by the candidates in the Preliminary Examination, who are declared qualified for the Main Examination, are not to be counted for determining their final order of merit. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination is not to be more than 1:13 times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in various services and posts. It is also provided in the rules that only those candidates who obtain such maximum marks in the Preliminary Examination, as may be fixed by the Commission at its discretion, are to be declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in a year, provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.