ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed a petition seeking to delay the CSS 2025 exams until the results of the CSS 2024 exams are announced. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani delivered the reserved verdict, with the written decision to be issued later, according to court staff.
The petition sought a stay on the 2025 exams, arguing that holding them before the 2024 results would disadvantage candidates. During the proceedings, FPSC Chairman Lt. Gen. (R) Akhtar Nawaz Satti informed the court that the 2025 exam schedule had been announced before he assumed office on October 9, 2024. He added that postponing the exams would disrupt the multi-year schedule, noting that exam halls in 88 centers nationwide had already been booked starting February 15.
The chairman further assured the court that the pending 2024 results would not affect candidates’ opportunities, as many are also set to appear in the 2025 exams or the special CSS exam. He urged the court to allow the exams to proceed as planned.
Supporting the FPSC’s position, Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal argued that the commission is legally empowered to conduct new exams even if previous results are pending.
However, Justice Kayani highlighted the concerns of petitioners, stating that the delay in announcing the 2024 results deprived candidates of the opportunity to review their weaknesses and adjust their subject choices for future exams. He noted that the issue could have been avoided if the results had been announced even a week earlier.
The court reserved its decision after hearing arguments from all parties on Tuesday, with a large number of CSS 2024 candidates present in the courtroom. Following the announcement of the reserved verdict, the petition was officially rejected, clearing the way for the CSS 2025 exams to proceed as scheduled.
