JKSSB faces backlash from politicians

Srinagar, Aug 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) on Sunday faced a backlash from the politicians including ruling National Conference Member Parliament from Srinagar constituency for alleged mismanagement of JE (electrical) examination

The Service Selection Board-which was the exam conducting body for non-gazetted posts faced criticism after the aspirants who were allotted their exam centre at Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary school here said the question paper was leaked on Telegram and WhatsApp groups, forcing JKSSB to announce cancellation of the exam.

Besides opposition leaders, Senior Leader National Conference and member parliament from Srinagar constituency Syed Aga Ruhulla Mehdi expressed concern over the cancellation of JE exam amid allegations of paper leak

"Aspirants travelled from remote corners of J&K with hope, only to face yet another collapse of the J&K SSB system. This is the direct result of a wrecked setup overseen by an unelected and unaccountable establishment," office of Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi posted on X.

"The scams that began under the so-called LG's watch have not stopped. Instead of safeguarding the future of our youth, books are being banned and schools taken over, the unresolved issue of reservation is taking a further toll on the future of youth," the post reads.

Ruhulla said the "elected government must rethink its role and approach because the current path is failing our youth and our identity."

Former Finance minister and President J&K Apni Party Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari in a post on X said the alleged paper leak in Junior Engineer (Electrical) examination was deeply concerning.

"The protest by aspirants is entirely justified, as their future is at stake. This incident exposes serious mismanagement within the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB)," he wrote on X.

He said that unfortunately, repeated scams and administrative lapses that have surfaced over the past few years have already damaged the integrity of the institutions responsible for recruitment examinations.

"Today’s paper leak must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible held accountable, but first and foremost, the authorities must cancel today’s controversial and compromised examination for the affected centre to uphold fairness and protect the aspirations of the candidates," his post on X reads.

Chairman JK Peoples Conference and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone also took to X to express his concern over the issue.

"We have finally made it. We are top in scams. This is nothing short of brazen daylight robbery in recruitment. Will someone please tell us what is happening," Sajad Lone wrote on X.

"Aspirants for JE electrical are first asked to leave the exam halls as paper is cancelled. Some continue taking the exams. Then all are asked to come in again. The paper is on social media well before the aspirants are ready to take the exam," his post reads, adding "Will heads roll or will we be dished out yet another round of third grade fiction."

Senior PDP leader and MLA Pulwama Waheed ur Rehman Para took to X and wrote: "Scam after scam, and now another SSB paper leak. Students are seen openly trying to solve problems, yet after banning books and locking schools, the government’s sale of exam papers is another blow to J&K’s youth."

PDP leader Iltija Mufti in her post on X said that youngsters across J&K placed an overwhelming faith in NC hoping for transparency in recruitment exams after electing them.

"But I’m appalled at how the NC government is wrecking their future because of their sheer incompetency to even conduct today’s JE Electrical Exam at Kothi Bagh Centre. Instead of bringing transparency, today's paper leak suggests that this government is fast becoming a den of corruption," her post on X reads.

J&K Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also took to X to express concern over the issue. "After banning books and locking schools, the sale of SSB exam papers by the government is yet another blow to J&K’s youth. This is the so-called ‘youth package’ for a region where 65% of the population is under 35," JKPDP wrote on its official X handle.