F&ES Recruitment Scam: LG Manoj Sinha Acts Firmly, 103 Illegally Appointed Firemen Terminated

 

 

Srinagar: In a decisive move reinforcing transparency and accountability in public recruitment, the Jammu and Kashmir administration under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has terminated the services of 103 firemen appointed in the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department following the exposure of large-scale irregularities in the 2020 recruitment process.

 

 

J&K Govt Terminates Services of 103 Firemen Appointees Over Recruitment Scam

 

 

 

The action has been taken under Government Order No. 608-Home of 2025 dated December 15, issued with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor, based on the findings of a high-level Inquiry Committee constituted in 2022 and a subsequent detailed investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

 

 

 

The inquiry uncovered serious manipulation in the selection process, including paper leaks, tampering with OMR answer sheets, digital alteration of records, fabrication of scanned images, and manipulation of merit lists. Investigators established that 106 candidates were unlawfully awarded inflated marks, far exceeding their actual performance.

 

 

 

 

Following the inquiry’s recommendation for criminal action, the ACB registered FIR No. 01/2025 and conducted an extensive probe. The investigation confirmed that the recruitment process had been compromised through organized fraud, and several beneficiaries admitted to paying illegal consideration to secure their appointments.

Out of the 106 candidates found to have benefited from the manipulation, three were earlier disqualified for failing to complete mandatory formalities. The remaining 103 appointees have now been removed from service with immediate effect, with the government declaring their appointments illegal and void ab initio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The government order clearly states that since the appointments were obtained through fraud and criminal means, the terminated individuals are not entitled to protection under Article 311 of the Constitution. It cites settled judgments of the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which hold that appointments secured through fraud do not attract safeguards of departmental inquiry or principles of natural justice.

 

 

 

The administration emphasized that allowing such appointments to continue would amount to perpetuating illegality and eroding public trust in government recruitment systems. The decision, therefore, reflects the Lieutenant Governor’s firm resolve to ensure that merit, fairness, and integrity remain the foundation of public service appointments.

 

 

 

With this action, the LG-led administration has sent a clear and strong message that corruption and manipulation in recruitment will not be tolerated, reaffirming its commitment to clean governance and accountability in Jammu and Kashmir.