A major controversy has erupted regarding the Junior Engineer (JE) Electrical exam in Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has demanded immediate intervention from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in this matter.
Srinagar: The Junior Engineer (JE) Electrical exam held in Jammu and Kashmir has become embroiled in a major controversy. Candidates and student organizations have alleged widespread irregularities in the examination. Not only were question papers distributed before the scheduled time at the exam centers, but some candidates were also seen using mobile phones. This issue has raised serious questions about the credibility of the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the Service Selection Board (JKSSB).
Student Union Alleges Irregularities in the Exam
Nasir Khuehami, the National Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), stated that the JE (Electrical) exam was originally scheduled to take place from 11 AM to 1 PM. However, citing bad weather, the exam time was changed to 12 PM to 2 PM. Allegedly, the question papers and OMR sheets were distributed at several exam centers before this new timing information reached the candidates.
Subsequently, candidates were reportedly asked to leave and return later. This not only increased the possibility of questions being leaked but also created a chaotic environment at the centers. Further compounding the issue, video clips have surfaced on social media purportedly showing candidates copying from mobile phones and filling OMR sheets inside the examination centers. Unequal treatment was allegedly meted out to candidates in many halls—some were allowed to write, while others were forced to wait.
Candidates from outer districts, who had taken leave from their jobs specifically to take the exam, were most affected by this disarray. The JKSA stated that the exam had become an “open mockery of fairness.”
JKSSB Has Faced Questions Before
The student union also claims that the JE (Electrical) question paper was leaked before the exam started. In several places, question papers were distributed, then taken back, and then reused. This process has raised serious questions about the transparency and integrity of the exam. The JKSA stated that “some candidates received undue advantage, while the time and effort of the remaining examinees were wasted. This is an insult to the merit and hard work of the youth.”
This is not the first time that the Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) has faced allegations. In the past few years, the board has also been accused of paper leaks, recruitment scams, and mismanagement. Students say that such repeated incidents have shattered their trust. For young people already struggling with unresolved issues related to reservation and employment, these events are further clouding their future.
Student Union Makes Four Demands of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has appealed to both Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for immediate intervention in this matter. Their main demands are as follows:
- Action against responsible officials: Officials found guilty of irregularities in the examination should be immediately removed from their positions.
- Transparent investigation: A time-bound and independent investigation should be conducted into the paper leak and the activities of the recruitment mafia.
- Strict security protocols: Measures such as CCTV surveillance, uniform exam timings, and real-time monitoring should be implemented in future examinations.
- Independent monitoring system: Until structural reforms are implemented, the examinations should be overseen by an independent mechanism under the Chief Minister's Office.
The JKSA has warned that this is not just a problem with one exam, but a question of the future of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Repeated scandals are shattering the hopes of young people.
