Why JKSSB hired blacklisted Aptech to conduct JKSSB upcoming exams?
Jammu Kashmir administration yet again selected APTECH company for conducting Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) exams in the region. The selected APTECH company is blocklisted by many states and has also been fined by the supreme court.
Thousands of students and competitive exam aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir are demanding action and blocklisting of Aptech company for conducting the JKSSB exams in Jammu and Kashmir.
The said company has failed in the past to ensure transparency and accountability in conducting such an exercise as UP, Rajasthan, Haryana and other states have banned it. However, the J&K administration is hiring them to put the future of thousands of our young people on the line.
Aspirants alleged that the LG management and JKSSB were not serious about the future of the youth. “When the applicants sought help from the High Court, which ordered a judicial inquiry into the selection process of a blocklisted company, the next day, JKSSB challenged that ruling and allowed a blocklisted company to be known for its incompetence and an unsafe examination process”.
Aspirants across Jammu and Kashmir demanded that the Aptech company, which has been entrusted with the job of conducting the JKSSB exam, be banned as the same company is blocklisted in many states in India.
Criticized by Political Parties
The Azad Democratic Progressive Party (DPAP) has expressed its great dissatisfaction with the selection of the company APTECH to take the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) examinations by the authorities.
The party’s chief spokesman, Salman Nizami, criticized the move, saying the company’s selection is a violation of rules and regulations, and is a matter of concern for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Salman Nizami said the selection of the APTECH company is alarming for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir as the company is blocklisted.
He noted that the company has failed to ensure transparency and accountability in conducting such exercises in the past, which is why many states have banned it.
He said that the government has already ruled out many hiring processes due to doubts and complaints. Now, if APTECH is running the exams for JKSSB, there is once again a chance that it will be removed as it has a poor transparency record. So before something bad happens, the government needs to reconsider its decision and choose a better option.
Nizami said that given the alarming rise in unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, the government must show sincerity in its efforts towards the youth.
State Spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir national Conference Imran Nabi Dar tweeted “JKSSB is the enfant terrible of the incumbent J&K administration. The board inspite of addressing the genuine concerns and fear of the educated, skilled local youth seems hellbent to destroy their future by continously persisting with a blocklisted company #APTECH.”
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples conference leader Irfan Sultan Panditpuri said “Many delegations of JKSSB aspirants from Mawer,Langate and Kupwara have approached my office that Aptech has been given contract for conducting exams which has been allegedly blacklisted in many states. My humble appeal to Hon’ble LG @manojsinha_ Ji to have a kind look into it.”
JK HC cancelled exams conducted by Aptech
In Dec 2022, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh cancelled all examinations conducted by the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) through the blocklisted firm, Aptech Limited for Civil Engineer positions. Junior, Jal Shakti Department, and Deputy Inspector, Household Department.
The court ordered the government to set up a high-level committee headed by no less than one retired High Court judge to investigate the conduct of JKSSB for its “blatant” irregularities and illegalities in changing the terms or conditions of the tender.
“Also as to why it weighed on them to award a contract to carry out an exam by an organization that has previously facilitated bad practices in public exams and consequently initiate the corresponding actions against those found guilty,” asked the bench.
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