SRINAGAR: The OMR-based written exam for Junior Engineer (Electrical) posts in Jammu and Kashmir was marred by a controversy on Sunday after shocking purported videos emerged from an examination centre in Srinagar — showing candidates openly using mobile phones and solving questions in groups and allegations of paper leak.
After massive outrage, Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) cancelled the examination. The recruitment for JE (Electrical) posts in J&K is being held after nearly a decade, and thousands of candidates appeared for the exam at multiple centres across the Union Territory.
However, as the examination began in the morning, shocking videos began circulating on social media from one of the centres (Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh) in Srinagar. In the videos, aspirants were seen using mobile phones inside the examination hall and discussing answers in groups. Adding to the chaos were allegations of a paper leak.
Some candidates claimed the question paper had been accessed before the exam officially started. “At around 10:47 am, we were handed the OMR sheets. About 5-6 minutes later, when some had already started going through the paper, an official came in and announced that the exam was postponed due to heavy rain in Jammu,” said one candidate at the Kothibagh centre. He alleged many students walked out with the paper. “Outside, groups began solving the questions using Google and other platforms on their phones.”
The candidate alleged that after nearly more than an hour, they were told to return to the exam hall and write the exam.
Aspirants seen using phones inside exam hall
However, as the exam began in the morning, shocking videos began circulating on social media from one of the centres in Srinagar. In the videos, aspirants were seen using mobile phones inside the examination hall and discussing answers in groups. Adding to the chaos were allegations of a paper leak.