Questions raised over selection lists in Fire & Emergency Department, Political Parties seek probe

Jammu: Serious questions are being raised over the recently issued selection lists for the posts of drivers and firemen in the Department of Fire and Emergency Services with many aspirants from Jammu alleging leakage of examination papers and those from Kashmir pointing out bungling in selection lists.

The Fire and Emergency Services J&K released selection lists for the post of drivers (98) and firemen (598) on October 3. Raising fingers over the selections lists, aspirants from Jammu said that even less than 10 percent candidates have been selected from Jammu province and more than 90% are from Kashmir in both lists.

Aspirants said that the notification for the filling up of the posts is more than 7 years old and since then almost 3 exams have been conducted.

They alleged that they have the credible proof of leakage of paper of the latest exam which was conducted on September 20 this year.

On the other hand, aspirants from Kashmir region alleged that majority of the candidates whose names have appeared in the list are 8th or 10th pass and just few candidates with higher qualifications have surfaced in the selection list.

Mohd Ashraf, one of the aspirants, who is holding MA and BEd degrees alleged that the examination paper was deliberately leaked by some officials in the Department who received huge money against question paper.

He said names of candidates mostly belonging to Budgam district who had received the leaked papers have surfaced in the selection list.

“It is ironical that a person with 8th pass qualification has managed to secure 89 points while those having higher qualification got only 65-70 points,” the candidates said, adding, those who failed in the physical tests are also in the final list.

Two persons with same roll number and with the same family background are also in the selection list, they alleged.

The candidates demanded a thorough probe into the bungling in the selection lists, leakage of examination papers by the officials of the Fire and Emergency Services Department and cancellation of the selection lists, failing which they said they have to knock the doors of the Court to get justice.

“These are very serious allegation and must be probed in a transparent manner,” said senior Congress party leader Ravinder Sharma, while reacting to the allegations. He said that no injustice should be done with the eligible youth.

At least in LG rule this is not expected, Sharma said and demanded a fair probe into the matter. “Culprits should be identified and booked under relevant sections of Law and till then the list should be kept in abeyance,” he added.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta also demanded probe into the matter. This is the issue directly linked with future of many eligible youth and if there are some allegations they must be probed, possibly by a sitting judge and till then both the selection lists should be stayed.

If anyone is found indulging in any wrong doing in the selection or conducting of exams, they must be punished strictly, Kavinder asserted.

“The discrimination with Jammu people in jobs is not new but this time modus operandi has changed and now it is institutionalize discrimination in which examination papers are being leaked to benefit candidates of some particular region or district,” said Ankur Sharma, chairman, Ikkjutt Jammu.

“I am surprised that no voice has been raised even by the Jammu based parties and Government is also acting as a mute spectator to this discrimination with youth of Jammu”, he added.

Sharma said there were total 690 posts including driver and firemen and out of these more than 600 candidates have been selected from Kashmir and only around 70 from Jammu region.

He emphasized for holding a fair probe into the matter and re-conduct of the exams. (DE)