The candidates who have appeared in paper-I of their optional – Kashmiri literature subject – in KAS Mains examination on Wednesday complained that authorities in JK Public Service Commission (PSC) had set out of syllabus question paper for them.
A group of aggrieved candidates told Greater Kashmir that the out of ten questions, only two were in accordance with the prescribed syllabus.
“Four questions were asked from paper II which is scheduled on March 8 while as two four questions were completely out of syllabus. Only two questions were as per syllabus,” the candidates said.
The candidates said the paper setter had selected question on environmental pollution, which according to them was not prescribed in the syllabus.
“Something is fishy in it as the authorities from past many years are trying to demoralize and discourage candidates who opt for Kashmiri as their optional subject in KAS examination,” said Shahid, one of the candidates who appeared in the KAS exams.
The maximum marks of the paper were 300 and each question carried weightage of almost 37.5 marks.
Meanwhile, the candidates accused the authorities of degrading Kashmiri as a subject ‘without caring about the career of the students.’
“Apparently all the efforts to promote Kashmiri language have bitterly failed as evident from the number of selections in Kashmiri from preceding years in KAS,” they said.
The candidates said setting out of syllabus paper for KAS aspirants has once again exposed the flawed system of examination of PSC. “Last time, the flawed system of the commission was exposed after it uploaded its key with wrong answers and the issue is still lingering in judiciary,” said aspirants wishing not to be identified.
The candidates accused the paper setter of following his whimsical nature while putting career of candidates at stake.
“There is no fun of promoting a language that doesn’t assure you a good career option. We appeal the higher authorities in JKPSC and government to look into the matter and provide justice to Kashmiri literature students,” they said.
The candidates said the aspirants will be forced to do away with opting Kashmiri as optional subject if the flawed system of examination continued in PSC.
“It is high time for authorities to provide justice on Kashmiri language promotion, else even the meagre candidates would part ways in future with Kashmiri literature optional subject,” they said.
Chairman PSC, Lateef U Zaman Deva didn’t respond to repeated calls from this newspaper.