JKSSB cancels OMR-based JE electrical exam amid allegations of mismanagement, paper leak

Srinagar, Aug 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) on Sunday cancelled the OMR-based written examination for the post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) in the Power Development Department amid the public uproar and allegations of a paper leak on social media platforms.

The exam was conducted in 35 exam centres in Jammu and Srinagar districts. However, the students allotted their exam centre at Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary school alleged that the question paper was leaked on Telegram and students were solving the question paper using ChatGPT.

The exam was scheduled from 11am to 1pm.

The students held a massive protest at Kothi Bagh while a video purportedly showing the question paper of the JE electrical post getting leaked before the culmination of exams went viral on social media, triggering protest outside the examination centre.

"As we were sitting in the exam centre, an official informed us to return the question paper answer scripts. We were not given any reason for this which created confusion among the candidates of this centre," one of the protesting aspirants said.

The aspirants raised questions on the JKSSB saying the exam conducting body failed to maintain the sanctity of the exam. "I came from Karnah to appear in this exam. But the way it was cancelled was unfortunate. The question paper was already leaked on Telegram and Whatsapp groups," the aspirants said, while pointing towards the other students who were purportedly seen solving the papers outside the exam centre.

"How were these candidates allowed to carry their mobile phones to the centres. JKSSB has got exposed for playing with the careers of the educated unemployed youth," the aspirants said.

Amid the uproar, the JKSSB issued a notification and announced the cancellation of the examination.

"The test was successfully held at 34 venues but could not be conducted at one centre due to weather-related disruptions. In view of the circumstances, the Board has decided to cancel the examination conducted on August 24 of 2025," the notification reads.

"The same shall be held afresh and a new date will be notified separately,” it reads.

The controller examination of JKSSB Reyaz Ahmad Malik attributed the cancellation of the exam to the waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall at several locations of Jammu, including some examination venues.

"Landslides blocked the routes leading to Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kandoli Nagrota, preventing a number of candidates from reaching the examination centre. The said educational institution was a venue for examination for 432 candidates," Malik in a statement, said

He said that taking cognisance of these weather-related emergencies, JKSSB decided to reschedule the examination timings from 11am-1pm to 12– 02pm in order to provide relief to the genuine candidates.

"The revised timings were duly communicated to all centre superintendents for implementation, and the notification in this regard was simultaneously flashed on the official website of the JKSSB," he said.

He said the examination started at 12 pm and was conducted smoothly at 34 venues.

"However, at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothi Bagh, Srinagar, (Venue with 644 candidates), some candidates agitated the delay in the timings of the conduct of the examination," he said.

He said that despite clearing the apprehensions of the candidates by the officers on duty, the candidates indulged in unruly behaviour, including snatching of question papers from invigilators and fellow candidates, creating ruckus inside and outside the examination halls.

"The matter was immediately placed in an extraordinary Board meeting and after due deliberations and considering all the aspects, the Board decided to cancel the examination for these posts of Junior Engineer (Electrical) held on August 24, 2025," he said.