SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has terminated the services of 103 firemen in the Fire and Emergency Services (FES) Department after an inquiry and an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation exposed large-scale irregularities in the 2020 recruitment process.
As per Government Order No. 608-Home of 2025, dated December 15, the action follows the findings of an inquiry committee constituted in 2022 to probe allegations of question paper leaks, OMR sheet tampering, manipulation of merit lists and other procedural violations.
Based on the committee’s recommendations, the ACB registered FIR No. 01/2025 and carried out a detailed investigation, which revealed manipulation of answer sheets, digital tampering, fabrication of scanned images and illegal alteration of merit lists to benefit 106 candidates. Several beneficiaries were found to have received marks far beyond their actual performance, with some admitting to paying illegal gratification.
Of the 106 candidates identified, three had already been removed for failing to complete mandatory formalities. The remaining 103 have now been dismissed with immediate effect, with the government declaring their appointments illegal and void ab initio.
The order stated that since the appointments were secured through fraud and criminal acts, the terminated employees are not entitled to protection under Article 311 of the Constitution. It cited Supreme Court and High Court rulings holding that fraudulent appointments do not attract safeguards of departmental inquiry or principles of natural justice.
The government said retaining such appointees would perpetuate illegality and undermine public trust in the recruitment system.
