J&K Govt Sacks 103 Firemen Over 2020 Recruitment Fraud
The Inquiry Committee, formed in December 2022 to investigate allegations of irregularities—including paper leakage and tampering—in the recruitment of firemen and fireman drivers, submitted its report in February 2024
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has terminated the services of 103 firemen in the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department, following revelations of widespread fraud in their 2020 appointments.
Issued vide Government Order No. 608-Home of 2025 dated December 15, 2025, the terminations stem from a detailed probe by a government-appointed Inquiry Committee and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The Inquiry Committee, formed in December 2022 to investigate allegations of irregularities—including paper leakage and tampering—in the recruitment of firemen and fireman drivers, submitted its report in February 2024. On its recommendations, the ACB registered FIR No. 01/2025 and conducted an in-depth investigation, officials said.
They claimed the probe uncovered extensive manipulation, including tampering with OMR answer sheets, fabrication of scanned records, digital alterations to merit lists, and deliberate inflation of marks for favoured candidates. “Evidence pointed to criminal conspiracy, with 106 individuals benefiting from the fraud. The services of three others had previously been cancelled for failing to fulfil mandatory formalities, leaving 103 affected by the current order”, they added.
Declaring the appointments illegal and void ab initio—obtained through fraud and manipulation—the government ruled that affected individuals are not entitled to constitutional protections under Article 311(2), such as a departmental inquiry or principles of natural justice.
Citing precedents from the Supreme Court and the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the order emphasises that fraudulent appointments cannot perpetuate illegality and would erode public trust in government recruitment processes.
The 103 personnel cease to be part of the F&ES Department establishment with immediate effect, underscoring the administration's commitment to transparency and accountability in public service, an official spokesman said in Jammu.
