The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A division bench of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on Friday requested the single bench to hear and decide afresh a petition challenging the engagement of Mumbai-based Aptech firm by the Jammu & Kashmir administration for conducting job tests. It set aside the single bench order cancelling the allotment of a contract to the firm and maintained its interim directions shall remain in force.

The division comprising Justice Tabi Rabistan and Justice M. A. Choudhary today remitted the writ petition back to the writ court for deciding the matter afresh.

“……Therefore, in view of what has been discussed above, we, without discussing the merits of the case, deem it proper to dispose of the appeals and remit the writ petition back to the Writ Court for deciding the matter afresh. Ordered accordingly. Accordingly, the order and judgment impugned is hereby set aside, the writ petition is restored to its original number and the writ petition is remitted back to the learned Single Judge with a request to decide the matter afresh," reads the order as per the news agency KNO.

The order further reads, "Writ respondents through their learned counsel are directed to file objections/counter to the writ petition within two weeks from today, thereafter, rejoinder, if any, to be filed within next one week. Registry is directed to list the writ petition before the learned Single Judge on 5th of April, 2023, when the learned Single Judge is requested to finally decide the writ petition. Till then interim direction dated 09.12.2022 shall remain in force."

In its interim directions on December 9, the division bench had directed that J&K Services Selection Board shall proceed with the selection process of Junior Engineer (Jal Shakti Department) and Sub-Inspector (Home Department), however, the result of the same shall await further orders from this Court.

Blacklisting period of Aptech over in May 2022: JKSSB Chairman

Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) chairman Rajesh Sharma on Friday assured the youth that there will be no compromise on transparency and merit while the blacklisting period of Aptech recruitment agency is over.

Addressing the press conference here at Jammu, he said the blacklisting period is for three years and this company's period got over in May 2022 while recruitment is being done in a free and fair manner. He also said the particular agency is already conducting exams across the country and at the Centre.

He further said that the present protests seem to be motivated to derail the functioning of the board. "There are certain elements spreading distortion and misinformation on the issue," he added.

"We are very much aware of your concerns and all efforts will be made to conduct exams in a fair, transparent and secure manner. Do not pay heed to rumour mongers and those with ulterior motives, who are only here to disrupt the processes,” Sharma assured aspirants.

He further said that justice will be ensured while the ability and merit of youth will be respected and strict action will be taken against all those elements who are trying to harm the future of meritorious aspirants.

On the allegation against the recruitment agency, he said that the matter is sub-judice and the High Court will take a decision in the matter. "The issue will be settled by the law and not by sloganeering. The instant protests seem to be an attempt to influence the High Court," he added.

SRINAGAR — Job aspirants continue to stage protests against tainted Apetch company hired by the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) in Kashmir capital Srinagar.

Pertinently, yesterday the aspirants also held a protest against the Aptech company that had already been blacklisted for conducting written examinations for recruitment to various government posts.

Scores of aspirants assembled in Press Enclave and demanded to scrap the contract of the company, alleging it has indulged in malpractices.

“It is unacceptable for us to appear in examinations held under the supervision of a tainted company. We don’t trust it as it has already strangulated the life called ‘justice’,” they said.

They said they don’t understand why this tainted company has been hired again and what are the sinister motives. The protesters demanded the cancellation of the contract without any delay.

SRINAGAR — Scores of Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) job aspirants gathered here in Press Enclave on Wednesday to protest against the purported grant of a contract to Aptech Limited for the conduct of various exams.

The protesters, as per the news agency GNS, demanded that the LG administration must investigate why paper leak and scam issues only occur in Kashmir.

“All blacklisted companies should be banned in Jammu and Kashmir. Until action is taken against these blacklisted companies, no student will sit for any competitive exams,” the protestors opined.

The protesters pointed out that Aptech Limited has been involved in numerous scams in other parts of the country including Rajasthan, Leh, Ambala, and others. “Many national papers have also highlighted these scams and nothing significant is being done to allay the apprehensions of the job aspirants,” they said.

The protesters demanded that the Lieutenant Governor administration should rise to the occasion and take necessary measures for the larger benefit of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

SRINAGAR — The engagement of Aptech by the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for conducting computer-based job tests in Jammu & Kashmir has come under severe criticism.

Claiming that the firm has been blacklisted in several States, the job aspirants, civil society actors and politicians are up in arms over the JKSSB’s move to hire Aptech firm for conducting computer-based job tests in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per the news agency KNO, social media platforms were flooded with angry reactions over the engagement of the Aptech by the JKSSB for conducting computer-based job tests in Jammu & Kashmir.

The hashtag #AptechBlacklisted is trending on Twitter, with netizens appealing J&K administration to scrap the contract with the firm to save the future of the youth of J&K.

“Students of J&K are crying due to the mess created by JKSSB. What hardworking students will get when a blacklisted company will conduct exams. Aptech is a scam and JKSSB is destroying the careers of youth. This company should be banned forever,” social media influencer and aspiring politician Guftar Choudhary tweeted.

Lawyer and former Congress spokesman Deepika Pushkar Nath said that hiring of Aptech firm is a sheer fraud with job aspirants.

“Hiring dubious Aptech exam conducting agency for the state level recruitment is a sheer fraud with the aspirants. #AptechBlacklisted tampered with Central level exams and one can imagine the susceptibility of JKSSB exams. Restore Merit system, save meritorious youth of J&K,” she wrote on Twitter.

Political leaders also assailed the move of hiring Aptech. “I have received a lot of emails and messages about Aptech which has been blacklisted in other states. Given the shoddy track record of the past, SSRB better tread with caution. Students need to be heard. You can’t trust a blacklisted company on our future,” PC chief Sajad Gani Lone tweeted.

National Conference chief spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar also lambasted the administration over awarding the contract to the blacklisted firm, saying it is a move to “destroy” the careers of local youth.

“JKSSB is the enfant terrible of the incumbent J&K administration. The Board in spite of addressing the genuine concerns and fear of the educated, skilled local youth seems hell-bent to destroy their future by continuously persisting with a blacklisted company,” Dar said.

The J&K Congress unit on its official Twitter handle said that it stands with aspirants who are suffering due to the illegitimate alliance of Aptech + JKSSB + corrupt officials + BJP leaders.

Chief Spokesperson of Democratic Azad Party (DAP) Salman Nizami termed the awarding of the contract to Aptech Limited a “deep-rooted conspiracy”.

“Awarding a contract to blacklisted Aptech by JKSSB seems a deep-rooted conspiracy to spoil the future of J&K's youth. The contract should be withdrawn immediately and in the future, never to engage with such companies,” Nizami said.