SRINAGAR, Jan 2 : The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case concerning alleged irregularities in the selection process for Fireman/Fireman Drivers in the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) Department.
ACB in a statement, “On July 24, 2024, the General Administration Department (GAD) sent a communication, along with the report of an inquiry committee, to the ACB. The committee had been formed by the government to investigate claims of irregularities in the 2020 selection process for Fireman/Fireman Drivers. The inquiry recommended a criminal investigation by the ACB, citing concerns of paper leakage and other irregularities”.
“An initial probe by the Bureau revealed that in 2013, the Departmental Recruitment Board (DRB), F&ES, J&K, had issued Advertisement Notice No. 01 of 2013 for various posts, including Fireman and Fireman Drivers. However, due to discrepancies, the recruitment process was terminated by the government in 2016. Recruitment resumed in 2018 through a Transparent Recruitment Process (TRP), as directed by the Hon’ble High Court of J&K. The TRP agency, M/s Timing Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. from Hyderabad, conducted the physical and written tests. After allegations of mass copying surfaced, the government canceled the written examination in 2019 and changed the TRP agency”.
“In 2020, the Directorate of F&ES issued e-NIT No. 01 for inviting tenders from vendors for conducting the written examination. Six TRP agencies participated, and M/s UMC Technology Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, emerged as the lowest bidder (L-1). However, despite their lower bid, negotiations were made with the second-lowest bidder, M/s LMES IT LLP, Jammu. The work order was given to this firm, even though it had no prior experience in conducting similar exercises, contrary to the conditions set in the e-NIT”.
“The written exam was conducted on September 20, 2020, and the selection list was issued on October 3, 2020, with 690 candidates selected. The investigation uncovered that favoritism was shown to M/s LMES IT LLP, which was connected to a former resource person from the previous TRP agency. Further scrutiny revealed discrepancies in the examination process, including incorrect marks being awarded to some candidates. For example, 109 candidates were found to have secured lower marks than what appeared on the final list. Additionally, instances of multiple family members being selected and other signs of favoritism were found”.
“The probe indicated that the DRB members, the Technical Committee, and F&ES officials worked in collusion with M/s LMES IT LLP, manipulating the selection process for personal gain. These actions resulted in offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, forgery, and cheating”.
“As a result, an FIR (No. 01/2025) has been filed at the ACB Central Police Station, and further investigation is ongoing”.
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