The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) on Sunday cancelled the OMR-based written examination for the post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) in the Power Development Department after widespread public uproar and allegations of a paper leak.
The OMR-based exam was conducted at 35 designated centres across Jammu and Srinagar today.
According to an notice issued by the Controller of Examinations, JKSSB, the test was successfully held at 34 venues but could not be conducted at one centre due to weather-related disruptions.
“In view of the circumstances, the Board has decided to cancel the examination conducted on 24.08.2025. The same shall be held afresh and a new date will be notified separately,” the notification reads.
However, beyond the weather-related issues, the cancellation appears to be prompted by allegations of malpractice, including videos circulating on social media allegedly showing students solving question papers in advance of the exam.
Candidates alleged that the exam paper was leaked on Telegram and WhatsApp groups before the test began, while shocking videos surfaced showing students filling OMR sheets with mobile phones in their hands inside exam centres.
At Kothibagh School in Srinagar, protesting aspirants said that after being given OMR sheets and question papers around 11 a.m., staff suddenly collected back the papers within minutes, citing “unclear reasons.”
“Some said it was due to a landslide in Chenab Valley, others whispered about a paper leak. Nobody knew what was happening,” a student said.
The protesters said chaos erupted as the paper allegedly circulated on Telegram while candidates outside exam halls were seen solving it using ChatGPT and mobile phones.
“This is shameful. Students were filling OMR sheets openly on their phones, right in front of staff and the controller. What kind of examination system is this?” another candidate said.
The aspirants claimed that after the initial confusion, they were asked to return to the exam halls, even though the paper had already been widely discussed outside.
“What justice is this? Everyone had seen the questions and answers already,” one protesting student questioned.
Several purported videos showing students with OMR sheets and phones have gone viral on social media, drawing massive criticism over alleged unfair practices.
Angry users slammed JKSSB, accusing it of repeatedly playing with the careers of youth in J&K.
Several aspirants staged protests outside examination centres, demanding accountability and a transparent recruitment process.
This is not the first time JKSSB has faced criticism over alleged irregularities in examinations. Earlier recruitment tests have also come under scrutiny, prompting investigations and cancellations.
Political parties directed their ire at the National Conference government, asserting that the paper leak represented a “blow” to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.