Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Interviews for the current recruitment drive in Department of Fire and Emergency Services are being conducted in a farcical manner if the candidates examined in the State's summer capital are to be believed.
"This is a totally bogus exercise, just a fixed match. We feel the interview panel has already received lists of favourites of different Ministers, legislators, bureaucrats and other circles of consequence", Abdul Rashid, whose surname and residence is being held back for his condition of anonymity, complained to Early Times. He revealed that the interview panelists had already made a selection list on the basis of the references and recommendations received from different pressure groups.
"Even the previous selection process had ended up a bogus and dubious exercise. They accommodate 50% of the candidates from the lists of names received from certain political and bureaucratic quarters. Over 40% are picked up from their own relatives and those who pay bribes, in cash and kind, through various means. Just 10% of the candidates are picked up on the basis of merit", said Ali Mohammad Bhat, another candidate. He alleged that compromises in physical standards were a key feature of all recruitments made in different organisations functioning under the State Home Department.
"Differences between officers over sharing the vacancies among themselves delayed selection of wardens in Department of Prison for over four years. Once, it is settled the selection list will come out, with or without the incumbent DG Prison K Rajendra Kumar, who has enjoyed high reputation while functioning as IGP Kashmir, IGP Jammu, ADG Armed Police and now DGP Prison", a middle ranking officer said.
According to the grapevine in Srinagar, DG Fire has developed high ambitions of starting a daily newspaper in English language that would "destroy" the dailies exposing his omissions and commissions in the last over 20 years. "He has set a target of the budget of Rs 5 crore", an insider disclosed. According to him, the process of roping in under-paid and jobless scribes was already in progress. |
