Council of State overturns 2010 military exam ruling

A long-standing legal battle regarding the 2010 Gendarmerie General Command exam for transitioning from non-commissioned officer to officer has concluded with a decision by the Council of State. The case originated when personnel alleged irregularities in the exam, including the failure to publish questions and answer keys, and an insufficient two-hour window for appeals.

Initial lawsuits filed in 2010 were rejected by the Military Administrative Court (AYİM), and subsequent appeals to the European Court of Human Rights were largely unsuccessful. However, following the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, it was revealed that several members of the AYİM panel that issued the original rejections had links to FETO/PDY. Additionally, many individuals who had passed the exam were later dismissed from service due to their affiliations with the group.

Following the dissolution of the AYİM through constitutional changes in 2017, the case was transferred to the Council of State. The Council accepted the request for a retrial, leading to the annulment of the original exam results. As a result of this 14-year legal struggle, three former non-commissioned officers have been appointed to the rank of lieutenant after completing two years of officer training.