IHC reserves verdict on plea seeking delay in CSS exam 2025

ISLAMABAD (Muhammad Ibrahim Abbasi): Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved the verdict on a petition demanding the delay of the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam till the issuance of the previous year’s results.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the plea of the petitions of the candidates who appeared in last year’s CSS exam and reserved the verdict after the completion of arguments.

The petitioners argued that taking fresh exams without releasing the 2024 results is a violation of their rights, as it may affect their future opportunities and preparation.

They adopted the stance that they participated in the CSS exam in February 2024, but the commission has not yet issued a result.

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has already announced the conduct of the CSS Written Competitive Examination 2025 on February 15, 2025 (Saturday) in 19 cities across the country.

Last month, the IHC served notices to the Federal Public Service Commission and sought the relevant record from the commission.

During the hearing today, Chairman FPSC Lieutenant General (Retd) Akhtar Nawaz Satti told the court that he took charge on October 9, 2024.

The FPSC Chairman said that the petitioner’s application was rejected because they will have a lot of opportunities even after the 2025 exams. He added that one applicant has already used all his opportunities, so he will not be affected by this matter.

The court questioned, “Whether it has ever happened in the past that the results were released after the next exams?” To this, the FPSC Chairman replied that it had never happened before.

Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal informed the court that if the exams were postponed, it would create a problem of secrecy and there would be a risk of further delay.

Dogal said that the rules and regulations of the Federal Public Service Commission allow the commission to do so.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked that if the CSS 2024 results had been announced even a week earlier, the petitioners would not have been in the court.

He also said that students were not allowed to change their subjects, which affected their rights. The Chairman FPSC told the court that the results of the CSS 2024 exams will be announced in April 2025.

On this, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani replied that the petitioners are the future of the country, and their rights must be protected. Justice Kayani further added that the Parliament, judiciary, and executive have all collapsed, due to which the fundamental rights of the citizens are being affected.