The Jammu and Kashmir government has terminated the services of 103 firemen appointed in the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) Department after an inquiry and an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation found large-scale irregularities and manipulation in the 2020 recruitment process.
According to Government Order No. 608-Home of 2025 dated December 15, the action follows the findings of an Inquiry Committee constituted in 2022, which examined allegations of paper leakage, tampering of OMR sheets, manipulation of merit lists, and other irregularities in the selection process.
According to the order, the inquiry had recommended a criminal investigation, following which the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered FIR No. 01/2025 and conducted a detailed probe. The investigation revealed extensive manipulation of answer sheets, fabrication of scanned images, digital tampering, and illegal alteration of merit lists in favour of 106 candidates. Officials said these candidates were awarded marks far exceeding their actual performance, and several beneficiaries admitted to paying illegal consideration.
Out of the 106 candidates found to have secured appointments fraudulently, the services of three had earlier been cancelled for failing to complete mandatory formalities. The remaining 103 appointees have now been terminated with immediate effect, with the government declaring their appointments illegal and void ab initio.
The order states that since the appointments were obtained through fraud and criminal means, the terminated individuals do not enjoy protection under Article 311 of the Constitution. It also cites judgments of the Supreme Court and the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, which hold that appointments secured through fraud do not attract the safeguards of departmental inquiry or principles of natural justice.
The government noted that the continuation of such illegally appointed candidates would amount to perpetuating illegality and undermine public trust in recruitment processes. Consequently, the 103 individuals shall cease to be borne on the establishment of the Fire & Emergency Services Department with immediate effect. (Agencies)
