The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday detained several job aspirants who were protesting against the administration’s move to allow Aptech Limited, which has been blacklisted in some States, to conduct computer-based selection tests for the posts of junior engineers and sub-inspectors in the Union Territory (UT). The police also used force to quell street demonstrations in Jammu city.
Hundreds of job aspirants held a protest in Jammu, questioning the Lieutenant Governor administration’s decision. Similar protests were held in other parts of the UT, including summer capital Srinagar.
“Why is the future of hundreds of job aspirants being put into the hands of those who lack credibility? We demand justice,” said a protester in Jammu.
The J&K Police used batons against demonstrators and detained several protesters, some of whom were raising anti-government slogans in Jammu.
The J&K Service Selection Board (JKSSB) is facing a credibility crisis after four major selection processes held since 2019 were marred by allegations of irregularities and even resulted in the cancellation of selection lists. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is already investigating the allegations of paper leak during the sub-inspector examination held last year.
Meanwhile, the images of protesters being thrashed have further agitated the job aspirants and also attracted criticism from J&K’s political parties.
“I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of force and lathi charge against students and JKSSRB aspirants. These youngsters were exercising their democratic right to protest against the recent decision to engage a blacklisted firm Aptech by JKSSRB,” former chief minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said.
Mr. Abdullah said the contract must immediately be cancelled. “What is the point of blacklisting a company if they are going to be awarded plum contracts. This contract is even more dangerous because it puts at risk the future of scores of aspirants who rely on JKSSRB to conduct recruitment exams,” he added.
Condemning the use of force against protesters, former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said, “Officers involved in this scam must be dealt with strictly. This government is making all efforts to snatch jobs from people. The use of force against job aspirants is unfortunate and condemnable.”
CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami said the use of force was “highly deplorable”. “Giving a contract for conducting exams to a company accused of being involved in venal practices is without reason,” Mr. Tarigami said.
Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone said, “Who would order the use of force against young students? Have some shame. You would probably have children at home of the same age group.”
On December 8, 2022, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal of the J&K High Court had directed the L-G administration “to constitute a high level committee headed by a retired High Court Judge to enquire into the conduct of JKSSB for the brazen irregularities and illegalities in changing the terms and conditions of the tender” to hire Aptech Limited.
The court highlighted that the company was involved in various “malpractices and irregularities” and was blacklisted by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and faced similar allegations of malpractices in selection tests to the recruitment of Rajasthan Police and Irrigation Department of Assam. The L-G administration appealed against the single Bench judgement.
Later, a double Bench, comprising Justices Sindhu Sharma and Vinod Chatterji Koul, stayed Justice Nargal’s judgment and directed the JKSSB to proceed with the selection process.
The JKSSB is scheduled to conduct a computer-based written test (CBT) for various posts between March 16 and April 5 to fill over 1,265 posts. The JKSSB will put in place a multi-layered structure for supervision at examination centres and the J&K Police shall deploy security personnel for frisking and maintenance of law and order at each venue and location, the government has said. “The CBT shall be conducted under CCTV surveillance for maintaining transparency in the examination. Besides, low frequency jammers are being installed in all the examination centres to prevent the use of unfair means including cheating using bluetooth and wi-fi enabled electronic devices. In order to ensure that the examination process being adopted is completely secure and free from any kind of malpractice, a third party has been hired to review/audit the examination process of computer-based tests conducted by JKSSB,” a spokesperson said.
