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Judgment
Before proceeding further, it is revealed from the record that the applicants have filed M.A. No. 1260/2026 seeking permission to file a joint application. For the reasons stated therein, the said M.A. is allowed.
Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) issued Advertisement Notification No. 04 of 2020 dated 16.12.2020 for filling up 972 posts of Accounts Assistants in the Finance Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, under the administrative control of the Director General, Accounts & Treasuries. Pursuant thereto, the applicants participated in the selection process and, after completion of the requisite stages, their recommendations were initially withheld on account of certain clarifications/verification concerning their category certificates.
It is submitted that the withheld recommendations of Applicant No. 1 and Applicant No. 2 were subsequently released by the JKSSB on 27.02.2025 and 06.03.2025, respectively, and forwarded to the Finance Department for further necessary action. Thereafter, following the requisite verification, the applicants were deputed as Accounts Assistant (Apprentices) for one year's A.C.C. training at the Accountancy Training Institute, Srinagar, vide order dated 06.05.2025.
Learned counsel further submits that the prescribed A.C.C. training comprises six months of theoretical training followed by six months of practical training and that, under Rule 6 of Schedule XI of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations, the apprentices are required to take the departmental examination after completion of the theoretical training, as and when the examination is conducted by the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission.
**05.**It is submitted that, during the period when the applicants were undergoing their theoretical training, the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission issued notification dated 20.05.2025 inviting applications for the ACC/SAC Departmental Examination-2025. The application window remained open from 26.05.2025 to 25.06.2025. At that stage, however, the applicants had not completed the requisite six months' theoretical training and, therefore, could not submit their applications within the prescribed period.
**06.**Learned counsel submits that the applicants subsequently completed their theoretical training and were deputed for practical training vide order dated 14.11.2025. Thereafter, the applicants completed the entire one-year A.C.C. training and were relieved from the Accountancy Training Institute, Srinagar, vide order dated 15.05.2026. They were thereafter posted/adjusted as Accounts Assistants vide order dated 19.05.2026 and are presently discharging their duties as such.
**07.**It is further submitted that, after completion of the requisite theoretical training, the applicants submitted a representation seeking permission to participate in the departmental examination, which was forwarded by the Principal Accountancy Training Institute, Srinagar, to the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission. In response thereto, the Under Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission, vide communication dated 23.12.2025, requested the Director General, Accounts & Treasuries, Jammu & Kashmir, to furnish the eligibility particulars, application forms and other requisite documents of the concerned candidates in offline mode so that the Commission could proceed further in the matter.
Learned counsel submits that despite the aforesaid communication, no effective action was taken and the applicants were constrained to submit a further representation dated 17.07.2026 before the Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Jammu & Kashmir, seeking consideration of their request and permission to participate in the forthcoming ACC Departmental Examination.
It is submitted that the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission subsequently issued notice dated 20.07.2026 indicating that the ACC/SAC Departmental Examination-2025 was tentatively scheduled to be conducted in September 2026, though the detailed date-sheet was to be notified separately.
Learned counsel submits that, in the aforesaid circumstances, the applicants seek consideration of their request for processing and acceptance of their examination forms and for being permitted to participate in the forthcoming ACC Departmental Examination, particularly in view of the communication dated 23.12.2025 issued by the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission to the Director General, Accounts & Treasuries.
However, after arguing the matter for some time, learned counsel for the applicants submits that the ends of justice would be adequately served if a direction is issued to the respondents to treat the present Original Application as a representation and consider the applicants' claims for processing and forwarding their eligibility particulars, prescribed ACC Departmental Examination forms, requisite fee and supporting documents to the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission in offline mode; for acceptance and processing of their examination forms notwithstanding the closure of the earlier online application portal; and for permitting them to participate in the forthcoming ACC Departmental Examination-2025, including, if required, grant of one-time procedural relaxation to the extent necessary for submission and processing of their forms, along with the assertions made in the Original Application and the documents annexed thereto, particularly Annexure-IV, i.e. communication dated 23.12.2025 bearing No. JKPSC-EXM/164/2024-05 (7715777), issued by the Under Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission to the Director General, Accounts & Treasuries, J&K, strictly in accordance with law and within a stipulated period.
Mr. Rais-Ud-Din Ganie, learned DAG, vice Mr. Syed Musaib, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 1 and 2, and Mr. Shah Aamir, learned counsel, along with Ms. Farhat Riyaz, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 3 to 5, appearing pursuant to the advance notice served by learned counsel for the applicants, submit that the present Original Application may be disposed of with appropriate directions, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the respondents.
Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
Having considered the submissions made at the Bar and the material placed on record, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the present Original Application pending, particularly in view of the limited prayer now made by learned counsel for the applicants.
Accordingly, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the controversy, the present Original Application is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to treat the Original Application as a representation and consider the applicants' claims for processing and forwarding their eligibility particulars, prescribed ACC Departmental Examination forms, requisite fee and supporting documents to the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission in offline mode; acceptance and processing of their examination forms notwithstanding the closure of the earlier online application portal; and permitting them to participate in the forthcoming ACC Departmental Examination-2025, including, if required, grant of one-time procedural relaxation to the extent necessary for submission and processing of their forms. The respondents shall consider the aforesaid claims in light of the assertions made in the Original Application and the documents annexed thereto, particularly Annexure-IV, i.e. communication dated 23.12.2025 bearing No. JKPSC-EXM/164/2024-05 (7715777), issued by the Under Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission to the Director General, Accounts & Treasuries, J&K, as well as the applicants’ completion of the prescribed training, strictly in accordance with the applicable rules, regulations and the law governing the field, subject to the applicants’ eligibility and entitlement and there being no legal impediment thereto.
The respondents shall pass a detailed, reasoned and speaking order within a period of eight weeks from the date a certified copy of this order is served upon them and communicate the same to the applicants.
It is made clear that this Tribunal has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the claims raised by the applicants, and all questions of fact and law are left open to be considered and decided by the competent authority.
With the aforesaid directions, the Original Application stands disposed of. Consequently, all connected miscellaneous applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.
No order as to costs.
Registry shall consign the file to the Record Room after due compliance.