CAT Orders JKPSC to Submit Deputy Medical Superintendent Records

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in Srinagar has mandated the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) to present the original selection records for the Deputy Medical Superintendent positions in Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) located in Jammu and Srinagar. The tribunal’s directive requires the JKPSC to submit these documents in a sealed cover by December 26, 2025.

This decision follows a challenge raised by Dr Kulbir Singh Jat, a candidate who claims he was unjustly excluded from the provisional selection list announced in Notification No 74-PSC (DR-S) dated November 3, 2025. Dr Jat contends that his exclusion is unwarranted, as he had initially qualified the written examination but was later deemed ineligible due to a purported lack of experience.

Legal Challenge and Expert Panel’s Findings

Dr Jat’s legal journey began in 2024 when he approached the CAT to contest the rejection of his candidacy. He argued that the JKPSC’s decision was arbitrary. A five-member expert panel, led by the Director of the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), later assessed his qualifications and affirmed his eligibility for the Deputy Medical Superintendent role. This panel concluded that Dr Jat met the necessary criteria, having a post-graduation in surgery and three years of experience managing a hospital.

Upon accepting the expert panel’s findings, the tribunal instructed the JKPSC to facilitate an interview for Dr Jat, validating his claim of eligibility. However, in his recent appeal, Dr Jat, represented by Advocate Mudasir Bin Hassan, has criticized the JKPSC’s selection notification from November 3, 2025, alleging discrepancies in the evaluation process.

Concerns Over Evaluation Process

Dr Jat has raised significant concerns regarding the transparency of the selection process. He asserts that he received an unusually low score of 25.98 marks in the written examination, which sharply contrasts with the scores of other candidates from related notifications, all of whom achieved over 50 percent. His legal counsel highlighted that this situation raises serious questions about the fairness and credibility of the evaluation process.

“It is only the applicant (Dr Jat) who has been shown to have secured less than 40 percent marks in the written examination and yet simultaneously shown as having qualified the examination,” the counsel stated.

Dr Jat’s counsel further argued that even if he were to receive a perfect score of 10 in the viva-voce, his total would still fall short of the 50 percent threshold required for selection. The counsel described the action of awarding Dr Jat such a low score as “irrational and discriminatory,” violating Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.

Additionally, the counsel suggested that the JKPSC’s reduction of Dr Jat’s marks appears to be a retaliatory measure for his earlier appeal to the tribunal. This selective downgrading has led to allegations of mala fides and ulterior motives in the selection process.

As the legal proceedings continue, the JKPSC is now under pressure to clarify its evaluation procedures and ensure transparency in the selection of candidates for the vital role of Deputy Medical Superintendent in Jammu and Srinagar’s medical institutions.