The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its decision on a petition seeking to halt the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) from conducting the CSS 2025 exams before announcing the results of CSS 2024. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani presided over the case, which involved arguments from FPSC Chairman Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Akhtar Nawaz Satti and Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal.
The petitioners, representing 3,761 candidates who took the CSS 2024 exams, argued that withholding the results before the next exams deprived them of the opportunity to make informed decisions. They highlighted that without knowing their past performance, they could not adjust their subject selection or exam strategies. The court questioned why the FPSC had not released the results earlier, observing that a timely announcement would have prevented the petition.
FPSC Defends Examination Schedule
In response, the FPSC Chairman defended the commission’s actions, stating that the petitioners would not run out of attempts even if the 2025 exams proceeded. He also revealed that the examination schedule had been finalized before he took charge on October 9, 2024. According to Satti, postponing the exams would disrupt the commission’s annual schedule, which includes nine different competitive exams.
The FPSC Chairman confirmed that 88 examination halls had already been booked nationwide for the CSS 2025 exams, set to begin on February 15. He reiterated that the commission had never announced CSS results after conducting the next round of exams, but insisted that existing laws permitted FPSC to proceed as planned. Additional Attorney General Dogal supported this stance, warning that delaying the exams could create issues related to exam secrecy and administrative challenges.
Judicial Concerns Over Candidates’ Rights
Despite the FPSC’s justifications, Justice Kayani remained critical of the delay, remarking that if results had been announced even a week earlier, the petitioners would not have taken legal action. He expressed concerns over the impact on candidates, noting that many were unable to reassess their weaknesses and change subjects accordingly. The judge also pointed out that denying students this opportunity affected their fundamental rights.
When asked about the financial costs of conducting CSS exams, the FPSC Chairman admitted he did not have precise figures. The court also questioned whether the FPSC would continue withholding results in future years, to which Dogal assured that this would not be the case.
Final Decision Pending as Exams Approach
The FPSC Chairman confirmed that the CSS 2024 results would be announced in the last week of April, months after the CSS 2025 exams would have already taken place. Justice Kayani emphasized that the petitioners represent the country’s future and that institutions must ensure their rights are not compromised.
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With less than a week remaining before the scheduled CSS 2025 exams, the court’s reserved verdict remains pending. Candidates continue to express frustration over the uncertainty, as the FPSC maintains its stance on adhering to the existing exam schedule.