JKPSC says no scope for manipulation; aspirants protest KAS-2016 results

The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission Monday defended the use of Gujarat model onscreen evaluation system to declare the KAS-2016 mains examination results, amid protests by civil services aspirants over alleged "discrepancies" in the results.

JKPSC chairman Latief-uz-Zaman Deva said there was no scope for any malpractice as the best system, having no parallel in the country, was in place for the combined competitive examinations in the state.

"Malpractice is impossible I can guarantee you with authority that compare our system and the reforms which the Commission had introduced, you will find no parallel of the system in rest of the country. This is my challenge," he told reporters here.

Scores of agitated Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) aspirations are hitting the roads in different parts of the state, including the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu, after JKPSC announced the KAS-2016 mains examination results in a record time of four months on December 4, using the Gujarat model onscreen evaluation for the first time.

The protesters are demanding a probe, claiming mass irregularities in the examination.

The KAS 2016 mains examination was conducted from July 2 to August 8 after a delay of nearly one-and-half year.

The result of KAS 2016 mains examination was declared via a notification, shortlisting 963 aspirants out of the total 6,427 candidates who appeared in the examination.

Earlier, the entire KAS 2016 examination process was challenged in high court at different stages, citing discrepancies and irregularities in the recruitment process.

"The Commission is decidedly at the highest pedestal. Levelling allegation is very easy but proving it substantially is difficult. Anybody is welcome to study our system and the reforms we had introduced in the interest of transparency and to maintain highest level of secrecy," Deva, who was flanked by controller examinations Khalid Majeed and secretary Rajesh Sharma, said.

He said the system was internationally recognised, adding "we assure the youngsters that this system is totally error-free".

"Whatever was possible in terms of verifying and
Deva clarified that most of the candidates were