Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 20 

Candidates for 10+2 lecturer posts in Jammu and Kashmir have alleged irregularities in the recruitment process conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, prompting calls for an independent probe, while the commission denied any wrongdoing and said due procedures were followed.

A group of aspirants for lecturer positions in Zoology said the recently declared results showed “statistically and humanly improbable” scoring patterns, raising concerns over disparities between written examination and interview marks.

The recruitment process, held after nearly a decade, involved a two-stage evaluation – a 100-mark written test followed by a 12-mark viva voce.

Candidates said the written test, conducted in October 2025, included multiple-choice questions with negative marking, and around 155 candidates were shortlisted for interviews held earlier this month.

They alleged that several candidates scored above 95 marks in the written exam, with some nearing a perfect score, which they described as unusual given the conceptual nature of the paper.

Aspirants also questioned the allocation of interview marks, claiming that top performers in the written test were awarded relatively low scores in the viva, while others with lower written marks received higher interview scores.

“Such a pattern cannot be dismissed as coincidence,” one candidate said, adding that their demand was for transparency rather than targeting selected individuals.

Similar concerns were raised by candidates for lecturer posts in Mathematics, who alleged that both the question paper and answer key contained errors. 

They said feedback from academics at institutions such as Aligarh Muslim University, University of Kashmir, and Central University of Kashmir pointed to flaws in the examination.

The aspirants called for the selection list to be put on hold pending an impartial investigation and sought intervention from authorities.

In response, JKPSC Secretary Bashir Ahmad Dar said the commission follows established rules and a transparent process, including publishing answer keys, inviting objections and reviewing them with subject experts.

“Objections are examined by experts, and we act according to laid-down procedures,” he said, adding that candidates are also given an opportunity to raise concerns after provisional results are declared.

He said thousands of candidates compete for a limited number of posts and that grievances from unsuccessful applicants are not uncommon, but maintained that the process was conducted fairly.