SRINAGAR, JAN 02: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday registered a case in response to irregularities identified in the selection process for Fireman and Fireman Driver positions in the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) Department.
As per the statement issued to The Newsroom 24 – Awaz, the General Administration Department (GAD) forwarded a report dated July 24, 2024, concerning alleged irregularities in the 2020 recruitment process. The report, which followed an inquiry conducted by a government-formed committee, highlighted concerns of paper leakage and other anomalies in the selection of Fireman and Fireman Drivers. The inquiry committee recommended criminal investigation by ACB.
The investigation by the ACB revealed that the recruitment process had a history of irregularities, beginning in 2013 when an initial advertisement for Fireman and related posts was issued. The process was later terminated in 2016 due to discrepancies. In 2018, the recruitment process was restarted under the supervision of the J&K High Court, with a Transparent Recruitment Process (TRP) agency, M/s Timing Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., being selected to conduct the exams. However, following allegations of mass copying, the 2019 written examination was canceled, and a new TRP agency was selected.
In 2020, the Directorate of F&ES issued another e-NIT for tendering a TRP agency, with M/s UMC Technology Pvt. Ltd. emerging as the lowest bidder. However, instead of selecting the L-1 bidder, the Departmental Recruitment Board (DRB) controversially awarded the contract to M/s LMES IT LLP, an agency with no proven experience, at a higher cost. It later emerged that the principal partner of M/s LMES IT LLP, Maharaj Krishan Wali, had previously been associated with M/s Timing Technologies, raising concerns about favoritism.
Further investigation revealed discrepancies in the examination process. Among the 690 selected candidates, 109 were found to have been awarded higher marks than they actually scored, and instances of favoritism, including the selection of multiple family members and relatives of F&ES Department officials, were noted.
The irregularities were traced back to members of the DRB, the Technical Committee, F&ES officials, and the TRP agency, M/s LMES IT LLP, who were accused of manipulating the process for personal and extraneous gains.
The allegations point to violations under sections 7, 13(1)(a) & 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018), as well as sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. A case, FIR No. 01/2025, has been registered at Police Station ACB Central, and further investigation is underway.
