KAS 2009 aspirants charge JKPSC of corruption

KAS 2009 aspirants charge JKPSC of corruption
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu April 20
Candidates, who appeared in the Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) exams in 2009 and got the detailed mark sheets recently, levelled charges of corruption and favouritism against the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) here today.

Peeved by alleged malpractices by the JKPSC, the KAS aspirants also wrote letters to Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the CBI and the Vigilance Department, urging them to intervene in the matter.

The candidates said there was no proper distribution of marks in the viva and a number of candidates, including those who had secured good marks in the written examination, were shown the door. Terming it a injustice meted out to them, these candidates held a meeting at the University of Jammu today and shot off letters to all top dignitaries and investigation agencies in this regard.

“The results of almost 70 per cent of the candidates were incorrect. If the JKPSC fails to show us the answer sheets, we will knock the door of the Supreme Court,” said the candidates.

They questioned the criterion adopted for the distribution of marks in the viva and demanded that the weightage of marks in the viva be reduced from 250 to 50 marks. “We have doubts regarding the merit list, as many meritorious candidates have been failed to pave the way for some influential candidates,” they alleged.

The KAS aspirants alleged that the candidates having political science as an optional subject were the worst sufferers. “I am sure that the marks awarded to me were not based on my answer sheet. My answer sheet has got changed and I want to see it to satisfy myself,” said Sonu Singh, who had appeared in the KAS exams in 2009.

“Nepotism also rules the roost at the JKPSC, as a daughter of one of the JKPSC members has been given extra marks in the viva,” the candidates alleged. They demanded that the interview of the KAS should be held in camera and the marks for the interview should be decreased from 250 to 50 marks. Some benefit should be given to the candidates belonging to the reserved categories, they added.

The candidates said they had sought their answer sheets under the Right to Information Act and if their demand was rejected, they would move the Supreme Court.

However, SL Bhat, chairman of the JKPSC, rejected the allegations levelled by the candidates of the KAS exams of 2009. “We have conducted the entire process of selection in a very transparent manner and all allegations are baseless. There has not been even one case of nepotism,” he said.

He added that those levelling allegations against the JKPSC were earlier demanding detailed mark sheets and when they were provided mark sheets, they could not bear to see their poor performances.

Earlier too some candidates had moved the High Court in Srinagar alleging that candidates having Urdu as an optional subject were given excess marks as compared to others, Bhat said. He added, “Every candidate has a different level of ability. Its better these aspitants don’t waste time and prepare hard for the exams next time”.