The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has finally cancelled the JE Electrical examination following the shocking videos that went viral on social media, exposing the paper leak. While the decision is a welcome step, it is also a grim reminder of the fragile state of our recruitment process and the urgent need for systemic reforms.
The cancellation acknowledges what the youth of Jammu and Kashmir have been saying for years—that their trust in examinations has been repeatedly betrayed. For aspirants who invested months of effort, resources, and hope, this episode is yet another painful setback. Their frustration is justified, and the government must recognize that cancellation alone is not a solution—it is damage control after irreparable harm has already been done.
What is needed now is foresight and accountability. The government, being an elected body, cannot afford to allow such lapses to recur. Competitive examinations must be treated with the same sanctity as elections, because they decide the future of thousands. Every leak is not just an administrative error—it is an assault on the dignity of hardworking youth.
Going forward, authorities must adopt extraordinary care and modern safeguards. Secure digital printing, encrypted transfers, strict access control, third-party audits, and independent monitoring bodies are no longer optional—they are essential. Moreover, fixing accountability is crucial. Without holding culprits—whether officials, insiders, or external actors—strictly responsible, cancellation will remain a cosmetic gesture.
The government also needs to communicate transparently with the youth. Silence or vague statements only deepen anger and suspicion. A public roadmap on how future exams will be secured can restore some degree of faith.
This incident must serve as a watershed moment. If lessons are not learned today, tomorrow’s examinations will meet the same fate, and the cycle of leaks, protests, and cancellations will continue. For a region where unemployment already overshadows young lives, such betrayals are nothing less than criminal.
It is time for the government to prove that it values merit over mismanagement. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir deserve not just cancellation of a tainted exam, but the assurance that their future will be protected with integrity.
