Srinagar, June 12: The recruitment process for various technical posts at SKIMS Soura has once again ended up in a controversy after the aspirants pointed out that a majority of shortlisted candidates were family members of high-ranking officials at the institute.
Many instances of “nepotism and unfair advantage to the relatives and wards of SKIMS Soura officials” have come to the fore in the recent past.
The Supervisor Technical post was advertised vide Notification No 03 of 2020 in June last year.
OMR-based written test was conducted on 18 February this year by SKIMS recruitment section.
“Among the five shortlisted candidates, they have called two sons of two employees closely associated with the director,” alleged a candidate.
The aspirant said that the employees were heading two important divisions of SKIMS, Soura.
Another instance of “shoddy selection” that has been highlighted is for the post of Junior Engineer (Electronics and Communication).
The aspirants said that the post was advertised in June 2020 and an OMR-based written test was conducted subsequently.
Five candidates were shortlisted for interview for the single post carried out on 28 April 2021.
Among these was the adopted daughter of a Superintendent-level officer, allegedly sharing close relations with the incumbent director.
The aspirants alleged that for the post of physiotherapist candidates in the fray include a personal physiotherapist of the director and son of his close associate in the CVTS department who has now retired.
A senior official at SKIMS said that the papers were set internally and paper leaks were “not new” at SKIMS even though the examination was OMR-based.
“Some candidates had raised doubts about an examination where a candidate, who is close to the IT section officer, was given a blank OMR sheet, which was later filled with all the right answers,” he said.
Calling the recruitment process at SKIMS a “murder of merit”, the candidates demanded that a probe be initiated into these shortlists and selections.
“Candidates who have merit but are not influential have lost all hopes of getting selected,” said a candidate.
He said that this was the biggest dishonour and disgrace to the most prestigious institute of J&K.
“It’s sanctity has been violated,” he said.
A top government official privy to SKIMS Soura management, who wished anonymity, said that the government would take note of all such allegations and “no favouritism will be allowed” at the institute or elsewhere.
Director SKIMS Soura, Dr A G Ahangar did not reply to calls and texts from Greater Kashmir.
Joint Director SKIMS Soura, Riyaz Wani said that the recruitment process was not under his control.