5 brothers from Budgam were in select list
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Government today terminated the services of 103 firemen appointed in the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) Department after an inquiry and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation established large-scale irregularities and manipulation in the recruitment process conducted in 2020.
The written examination, conducted on September 20, 2020, resulted in a selection list (Order No. 823 of 2020, dated October 4, 2020) of 690 candidates: 592 Firemen and 98 Firemen Drivers.
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The ACB’s probe revealed that the question papers were beyond the comprehension level of candidates with the minimum required qualification (8th standard).
It also established that 109 selected candidates were found to have scored below the cutoff but were fraudulently awarded higher marks (candidates with scores of 11, 17, or 24 were shown to have secured 90).
The selection list also included five real brothers from Budgam and relatives of F&ES officials.
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A Government order (No. 608-Home of 2025 dated December 15) issued here today stated that the action follows the findings of an Inquiry Committee constituted in 2022, which examined allegations of paper leakage, tampering of OMR sheets, manipulation of merit lists and other irregularities in the selection process.
The inquiry recommended a criminal investigation, following which the ACB registered FIR No. 01/2025 and conducted a detailed probe. The investigation revealed extensive manipulation of answer sheets, fabrication of scanned images, digital tampering and illegal alteration of merit lists in favour of 106 candidates.
It was established that these candidates were awarded marks far exceeding their actual performance, and several beneficiaries also admitted to paying illegal consideration, officials said.
Out of the 106 candidates found to have secured appointments fraudulently, the services of three were earlier cancelled for failure to complete mandatory formalities. The remaining 103 appointees have now been terminated with immediate effect, with the Government declaring their appointments illegal and void ab initio.
The order stated that since the appointments were obtained through fraud and criminal means, the terminated individuals do not enjoy protection under Article 311 of the Constitution.
It also cited judgments of the Supreme Court and the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, which holds that appointments secured through fraud do not attract the safeguards of departmental inquiry or principles of natural justice.
The Government noted that continuation of such illegally appointed candidates would amount to perpetuating illegality and undermine public trust in recruitment processes. Consequently, the 103 individuals shall cease to be borne on the establishment of the Fire & Emergency Services Department with immediate effect.
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