103 firemen terminated over ‘compromised process of recruitment’ in J&K

The administration of J&K Lieutenant Governor on Monday (December 15, 2025) terminated the services of 103 personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services Department over “compromised process” of recruitment.

The decision was made after an inquiry committee of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), constituted to investigate the 2022 recruitment, found “large-scale tampering in Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets, fabricated scanned images of answer sheets and illegal manipulation of merit list.

The investigation agency “conclusively confirmed manipulation of results in favour of 106 candidates who were awarded marks far in excess of what they actually secured, tampered digital evidence and criminal conspiracy.

“It has been established beyond doubt that the appointments of these 106 candidates were obtained fraudulently, through criminal means and result-manipulation, rendering their appointments void ab initio,” an order, issued by Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to the Government, said.   

The order said since these 106 individuals secured appointment through fraudulent means prior to entering service, they do not enjoy the protections contemplated under Article 311 which provides the provision of an opportunity to be heard.

The appointment of three candidates has been cancelled by the Director, Fire and Emergency Services, for not fulfilling the requisite formalities required for appointment in government service.