Srinagar, Dec 15:The Jammu and Kashmir government has removed 103 firemen and fireman driver appointees from service after an investigation found that their recruitment was illegal and based on fraud.
The appointments were made during the 2020 recruitment process. A government order issued on Monday said these appointments were invalid from the beginning and have been cancelled with immediate effect.
An enquiry committee, formed in December 2022, found serious irregularities in the selection process, including paper leaks, manipulation of results, and tampering with records. Based on these findings, a criminal investigation was recommended.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) later registered an FIR in January 2025 and confirmed large-scale fraud. The investigation found that OMR answer sheets were altered, merit lists were manipulated, and digital records were tampered with.
At least 106 candidates were given marks much higher than they actually scored.Out of these 106 candidates, three appointments had already been cancelled earlier, while the remaining 103 have now been terminated.The government stated that since the appointments were obtained through fraud, constitutional job protections do not apply. It said allowing such employees to continue would harm public trust and the integrity of the recruitment system.
The terminated candidates come from various districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The order was approved by the Lieutenant Governor and issued by the Home Department.
