NVI Correspondent
Jammu, Jan 02 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered an FIR to investigate significant irregularities in the recruitment process for Fireman and Fireman Drivers in the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) Department.
An official statement said that the investigation comes after allegations of paper leaks, favoritism, and deliberate manipulation of the selection process during the 2020 recruitment drive.
The case originated from a report submitted by an inquiry committee formed by the General Administration Department (GAD). The committee had recommended a criminal investigation into allegations of paper leakage and irregularities in the recruitment process, which has now been taken up by the ACB.
The recruitment process for these posts initially started in 2013 under Advertisement Notice No. 01 of 2013. However, due to discrepancies, the selection process was terminated in 2016. In 2018, following a court order, the recruitment process was restarted under the same advertisement with directions to conduct it through a Transparent Recruitment Process (TRP). A Hyderabad-based firm, M/s Timing Technologies India Pvt. Ltd, was hired to oversee the physical and written tests. Allegations of mass copying in the written test led to its cancellation in 2019, and the government ordered a fresh examination with a new TRP agency.
In 2020, the Directorate of F&ES issued a tender to select a TRP agency. While the lowest bidder, M/s UMC Technology Pvt. Ltd., met the required criteria, the contract was controversially awarded to the second-lowest bidder, M/s LMES IT LLP, Jammu. Investigations revealed that LMES IT LLP lacked the required experience and was awarded the contract without justification. Notably, Maharaj Krishan Wali, a key partner in LMES IT LLP, had previously been associated with the earlier TRP agency, raising further concerns about favoritism.
The ACB probe found that the selection process was heavily manipulated. Question papers were beyond the comprehension of candidates with the prescribed minimum qualification of 8th grade. A review of OMR sheets revealed that 109 selected candidates scored below the cutoff marks but were fraudulently shown as having secured higher marks in the final selection list. In one instance, candidates who actually scored 11, 17, and 24 marks were shown as having secured 90 marks each. Cases of favoritism were also exposed, including the selection of five real brothers from Budgam and several relatives of officials in the F&ES Department.
By manipulating the selection process, members of the Departmental Recruitment Board, Technical Committee, and officials of the F&ES Department are alleged to have conferred undue benefits upon themselves and their associates. The ACB has charged them under multiple sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy and forgery.
The ACB has registered FIR No. 01/2025 in Police Station ACB Central and stated that further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the scam and hold all responsible parties accountable.(News Vibes of India)
