Aptech Private Limited, a Mumbai-based company, has been involved in recruitment scams, and it is recommended that the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) cancel their engagement. APTECH was assigned to conduct recruitment exams for the Assam irrigation department, but the Gauhati High Court stayed the declaration of results due to large-scale anomalies in the February exam. The company had also been blacklisted in Uttar Pradesh for irregularities in selecting candidates in the power department. Despite this, the SSB chairman defended the engagement of the company, saying they had completed their blacklisted period of three years.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration cancelled exams for police sub-inspectors, junior engineers, and finance account assistants in July 2022 following allegations of paper leaks and other malpractices. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the sub-inspector recruitment scam and has already filed a charge sheet against 24 people, including a BSF commandant. Despite the scandal, the recruitment process is back on track, with the SSB introducing new measures such as third-party audits and low-frequency jammers to ensure transparency and fairness.
However, the use of APTECH as the company for conducting exams has raised concerns. While the SSB argues that they employed checks and balances to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in the selection process, critics contend that using a blacklisted company undermines the integrity of the recruitment process. The matter is currently sub-judice, and while the SSB argues that they are following government guidelines, it is recommended that they reconsider their engagement of APTECH.
Recruitment scams and malpractices can have severe consequences on job aspirants, who invest time, money, and effort into preparing for exams only to be disqualified due to cheating, paper leaks, or other anomalies. Such practices also undermine public trust in government institutions and create a culture of cynicism and apathy. Therefore, it is essential that recruitment processes are fair, transparent, and accountable to ensure that qualified candidates are selected for the job. Cancelling APTECH’s engagement could be a step towards restoring the confidence of job aspirants in the system and ensuring that recruitment scams are eliminated.