ITANAGAR, Aug 4: In a significant development, the Gauhati Court has granted permission to the State of Arunachal Pradesh to proceed with the selection process for the posts of Chairperson and one Member of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). The decision comes after the filing of Interlocutory Applications, I.A.(Civil) No.2125/2023 and I.A. (Civil) No.2111/2023, seeking clarification on the order passed by the Hon’ble Chief Justice Mrs. Justice Mitali Thakuria on June 9, 2023, in WA No.205/2023 and WA No.203/2023.
The applications questioned the legality of the decision to cancel the earlier selection process for the Chairman and Members of APPSC. I. Chowdhury, learned Advocate General, Arunachal Pradesh, argued that since some members who were selected alongside the respondents did not challenge the decision to cancel their selection, the State should be allowed to proceed with the fresh selection process initiated through an advertisement dated April 28, 2023.
Representing the respondents, Advocate J. Patowary and Mr. B. Kaushik, learned counsels, expressed no objection to the selection process being carried forward, provided their clients’ interests were safeguarded.
Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances, the Hon’ble Chief Justice Mrs. Justice Mitali Thakuria granted permission to the State of Arunachal Pradesh to proceed with the selection process for the posts of Chairperson and one Member of APPSC as per the advertisement dated April 28, 2023. However, owing to the pending writ petitions, WP(C) No.213(AP)/2023 and WP(C) No.223(AP)/2023, challenging the decision to cancel the earlier selection process, the results of the fresh selection process will be kept in a sealed cover and will not be declared until the disposal of the aforementioned two writ petitions.
The High Court has also urged the learned Single Judge to expedite the decision of the writ petitions, WP(C) No.213(AP)/2023 and WP(C) No.223(AP)/2023.
