Er Jaleel Wani
In his widely acclaimed book ‘Manufacturing Consent’ Noam Chomsky argues how states concoct lies by mass media to create a narrative of war cry against adversaries. But we live in a Post-truth world today – a world in which debates are framed on emotional appeals, disconnected from the details of policy. The lies are repeated to the extent that it becomes a reality and genuine facts are ignored. This is a world of WhatsApp universities, Facebook law colleges and media trails where consent is manufactured today. And, this has done substantial damage to the Indian polity in particular where credibility of institutions is now at stake.
On December 4 JKPSC Mains results were declared. Since then our grief-stricken state has gripped in a vicious debate with no end in sight. It was alleged because of the introduction of digital evaluation, there were some serious discrepancies in the marking system – in what has been called “the mass error”. It was also accused that back door entries have been done by considering some “blue-eyed boys” rather than the deserving candidates.
I have been preparing for the JKPSC since 2014. I couldn’t make it to interview in my first attempt and I accepted the verdict with utmost humility and buckled up for KAS 2016. After a lot of administrative hiccups, the results of KAS 2016 were announced and I made it to the interview this time, knowing it clearly that I still can’t make it to the final list. Some of my friends who had qualified UPSC Mains last time couldn’t qualify KAS 2017 prelims this time. At least a half dozen of my friends are failing to make in the final list of KAS in the last three attempts. Back then, this exam is a game and it becomes a passion and equally an addiction when you are on to it for quite a long time.
Now coming to the baseless accusations levelled by the failed dissenting candidates. On 07-12-2017 wide notification no: PSC/Exam/75/2017 the JKPSC wrote, “The commission shall gradually switch gradually switch over to Digital Evaluation/On Screen Marking and to begin with the same(DE/OSM) to be adopted in such examinations as may be decided by the commission on case to case basis…This shall come into force with immediate effect. By order of commission.” In this notification, PSC has publicly advertised that from here onwards it will shift to digital evaluation marking. JKPSC adopted this system after consulting various stakeholders and states in which this method of marking was adopted. “But the heartening fact is that the Commission has learned from its past mistakes and has introduced much-desired technology in the process of evaluation for the first time. With this reform, they could come up with the Mains results in a record time this year, also compensating for the previous loss to some extent. However, some things in the process of evaluation are beyond the control of Commission, where the examiner has a final say” argued Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari in a newspaper dated Dec. 11 to defend this mode of evaluation. What is ironic is that the failed candidates had no problem when PSC floated this notification in 2017. It only can come to the fore when a fringe section of failed aspirants has started media trail to denigrate this institution of repute.
The theory of favour to the “blue-eyed candidates” was floated first by the Governor of the state and was later picked up later by failed dissenting candidates. Let the failed dissenting candidates come up with a substantial dossier on this accusation. Creating castles in the air and floating conspiracy theories, in essence, don’t work.Shreds of evidence do. In conflict settings, conspiracy theories, unfortunately, do become the norm of the day. The current fiasco is no prone to it.
Finally, I would like to say there is a proper procedure to be followed. The dissenting candidates should have filed an RTI to check the veracity of the exams. This drama of high uncertainties is not only taking a heavy toll of our mental health but is costing us our precious time as well. We want an end to this controversy as soon as possible.
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