The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Sunday sought urgent intervention from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the alleged irregularities and mismanagement in the recently held JKSSB JE (Electrical) examination. The Association called the exam a "mockery of fairness" and demanded sweeping reforms, accountability, and structural overhaul of the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB).
In a strongly-worded statement, JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the chaos during the exam has shattered the faith of thousands of aspirants who travelled from remote areas across J&K with the hope of a fair recruitment process. “Instead of transparency and order, what unfolded was absolute disorder, confusion, and a betrayal of the hard work and sacrifices made by aspirants,” he said.
The exam, originally scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., was delayed to 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. due to weather. However, question papers and OMR sheets had already been distributed at several centres before the revised time was officially communicated. Candidates were then asked to leave and return later, creating conditions where some had early access to the questions.
Alarming visuals surfaced showing candidates scrolling through their mobile phones while holding OMR sheets inside examination halls, Khuehami revealed. “Some candidates wrote the paper while others waited outside, and many sat in total confusion. This was not an exam but a collapse of integrity,” he added.
JKSA Advisor Faizan Peer said the government’s decision to cancel the examination was necessary but insufficient. “This isn’t an isolated failure — JKSSB has become synonymous with paper leaks, corruption, and shattered dreams. Aspirants have been repeatedly failed by a system that should protect merit,” he said.
The Association demanded:
Immediate dismissal of erring officers.
A time-bound and transparent probe into the leak and the paper mafia.
A contingency protocol for future exams, including synchronized start times, real-time CCTV monitoring, and data preservation.
An independent oversight body under the Chief Minister’s office until deep reforms are implemented.
JKSA also warned that recurring scandals are forcing J&K’s youth to lose faith in the system, pushing them into despair. “It’s not just about one cancelled paper; it’s about restoring the dignity of merit and saving a generation,” the statement said.
Calling this a defining moment, the Association urged both LG Manoj Sinha and Omar Abdullah to take personal interest and ensure that justice, reform, and credibility are urgently delivered. “Anything less would be another betrayal of J&K’s youth,” it concluded.