Aptech No Longer Blacklisted: JKSSB Chairman

SRINAGAR: As the protests over hiring of a previously blacklisted company for conducting recruitment examinations gained momentum, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) chairman Rajesh Sharma on Friday assured the aspirants that there will be no compromise on transparency and merit.

Calling the protests a malicious campaign to disrupt boards functioning, JKSSB chairman urged the aspirants to continue preparing for their exams and not to pay heed to the rumour mongers.

“Board is very well aware of your concerns and we ensure you that there will be no compromise on transparency and merit. Focus on your studies and ignore these useless protests,” Sharma said while addressing a press conference at Jammu.

He further said that the Aptech company is not blacklisted as of date, though it was blacklisted in 2019 for three years and that term expired in 2022, adding, “In accordance to the rules provided in General Financial Rules 2017 of GoI to deal with blacklisting the Aptech company has served its term,” Rajesh Sharma said.

Adding further, Rajesh Sharma said that the agency is already conducting various important exams in other states of the country.

“This agency is not permanently blacklisted for conducting exam. There is a difference between blacklisting and banning. These protests seem to be motivated to derail the functioning of the Board and deviate the hardworking candidates,” SSB chairman said.

Assuring the aspirants that justice will be ensured and youth’s ability and merit will be respected, Sharma said, “Strict action will be taken against all those elements who are trying to harm the future of deserving aspirants,”

He further added, “The matter of Aptech is still sub-judice and court will have a final say in this. The issue will be settled by law and not by sloganeering.”

Maintaining that the board has taken major steps to ensure transparency and fairness in exams Sharma said, “ Installation of jammers and cameras in all exam centres, observers from General Administration Department and district administration to look after the exam centres , magistrates, presence of police, third party audit all has been taken care of.”