Srinagar, Dec 18 (KNO): Aspirants affected by the 2020 Fire and Emergency Services recruitment scam on Thursday thanked Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and BJP leader Ravindra Raina for what they called "a transparent and fair handling of the inquiry" that led to the termination of 103 firemen earlier this week.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the aspirants gathered at the Press Enclave in Srinagar and expressed gratitude to the LG administration for acting on the findings of the probe into the 2020 recruitment irregularities.
“The inquiry was fair and transparent. For the first time, we feel our voices have been heard,” said one of the aspirants, adding that the decision has restored faith in merit-based recruitment.
Another aspirant remarked, “This is just a trailer; the movie is yet to come. We thank LG Manoj Sinha and Ravindra Raina for taking action and ensuring that honesty and merit are respected.”
The participants said the move has “sent a strong message” against corruption in recruitment. “Those who manipulated the process have been exposed, and the deserving youth have regained hope,” another aspirant told KNO. "This is a turning point in the fight for transparent recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir. We hope this accountability continues in every department."
Recently, the Lieutenant Governor-led administration, following an inquiry committee’s report and an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation, ordered the termination of 103 firemen appointed through the 2020 recruitment process.
The probe had confirmed tampering of OMR sheets, manipulation of merit lists, fabrication of records and inflated marks. Of the 106 candidates found to have benefited from the irregularities, three had already been removed earlier for failing mandatory formalities, leaving 103 affected by the latest order—(KNO)