MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court’s Mirpur Circuit on Wednesday issued a stay order on the ongoing process for the appointment of a new President of the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (BAJK), declaring the recruitment advertisement and interviews conducted under it null and void.
In its interim order, the court also declared the decision to assign the additional charge of the bank’s president to the Chief Secretary of Azad Kashmir as unlawful and directed that the charge of Acting President be handed over immediately to Senior Executive President Shahid Mir.
The court ruled that the administrative affairs of the bank should be conducted in accordance with the law and rules and legal requirements cannot be ignored in any appointment or administrative action.
The court directed the concerned authorities not to take any action for the appointment of the new President until further orders.
The petitioner had taken the stand that the process of appointment to the post of President was started contrary to the prescribed rules and regulations, while giving the additional charge of the President of the bank to the Chief Secretary exceeded the legal authority available under the law.
After hearing the preliminary arguments, the court granted interim relief and suspended the advertisement, interviews and appointment process.
In its order, the judge said that the day-to-day administrative affairs of the bank should not be affected; hence, Senior Executive President Shahid Mir will immediately assume the responsibilities of the acting president.
The court has issued notices to the parties and sought detailed responses at the next hearing, where the appointment process, legal powers and other administrative matters will be examined in detail.
Following this decision, the entire process of appointing the new president of Bank of Azad Kashmir has been postponed until the next court decision.
