Govt terminates 103 firemen

Srinagar, Dec 15: In a major crackdown on fraudulent recruitments, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday terminated the services of 103 firemen appointed in the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department after an official inquiry and an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation established that their selection in the 2020 recruitment process was secured through criminal manipulation.

The terminations were ordered through Government Order No 608-Home of 2025, dated December 15, 2025, issued by the Home Department and signed by Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, “by order of the Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir.”

According to the order, the irregularities came to light following allegations of large-scale malpractice in the recruitment of Fireman and Fireman Driver posts.

An Inquiry Committee was constituted vide Government Order No 1513-JK(GAD) of 2022 to examine the allegations.

“The Inquiry Committee, after detailed examination, recommended a criminal investigation by the ACB, J&K, into allegations of paper leakage, manipulation of results and other related issues,” the government order reads.

Acting on the recommendation, the ACB registered FIR No 01/2025 on January 2, 2025, and conducted a detailed verification and investigation into the recruitment process.

The investigation revealed systematic and widespread tampering.

“The ACB established large-scale tampering in OMR answer sheets, fabricated scanned images of answer sheets, and illegal manipulation of the merit list,” the order reads.

It records that the manipulation was carried out to benefit specific candidates.

“The investigation conclusively confirmed manipulation of results in favour of 106 candidates who were awarded marks far in excess of what they actually secured,” the order reads.

The government said the findings left no scope for doubt regarding the illegality of the appointments.

“It has been established beyond doubt that the appointments of these 106 candidates were obtained fraudulently, through criminal means and result manipulation, rendering their appointments void ab initio,” the order reads.

Explaining the legal basis for immediate termination, the government clarified that constitutional safeguards normally available to government employees do not apply in such cases.

“The protections available to civil servants under Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India do not apply in cases where the appointment itself is illegal, and the foundation of employment is vitiated by fraud,” the order reads.

The order also cites judicial precedents of the J&K and Ladakh High Court as well as the Supreme Court to underline the point.

“Where the appointment is illegal or void from inception, principles of natural justice, including the requirement of a departmental inquiry, do not apply, as the individual never legally acquired the status of a government employee,” it reads.

Of the 106 beneficiaries identified by the ACB, the appointments of three candidates had already been cancelled earlier.

The remaining 103 candidates have now been terminated with immediate effect.

Accordingly, the order declared the appointments of the 103 candidates as Firemen in the Fire and Emergency Services Department illegal, void ab initio, and hereby terminated with immediate effect.

It further directs that “these individuals shall accordingly cease to be borne on the establishment of the Fire and Emergency Services Department with effect from the date of issuance of this order.”

The government concluded that allowing such appointees to continue would amount to legitimising illegality.

“Their continuation in service amounts to a perpetuation of illegality, undermining public trust, and the sanctity of the recruitment process,” the order reads.

Meanwhile, the ACB is continuing the criminal investigation into the recruitment scam, and further legal action is expected based on the outcome of the probe.