SRINAGAR: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Thursday raised concern over what he termed a regional imbalance in the Civil Services (Judicial) Mains Examination results, after only 13 candidates from the Kashmir Valley were shortlisted for the viva voce stage out of 124 successful candidates.
In a statement, Bukhari said that 111 shortlisted candidates belonged to the Jammu division, calling the disparity “serious” and demanding an impartial inquiry into the selection process.
He said candidates from the Valley had alleged irregularities and a lack of transparency in the examination results, adding that such concerns could not be ignored given the wide regional gap reflected in the outcome.
Bukhari also criticised political parties for what he described as the communalisation of public issues in Jammu and Kashmir. He said polarisation during the 2024 Assembly elections had deepened divisions between Jammu and the Valley, affecting social harmony in the Union Territory.
Referring to earlier controversies, he cited the merit-based selection of MBBS students at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, alleging that the issue had been politicised on religious lines. He said such developments had contributed to growing mistrust between the two regions.
The Apni Party president urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene, seeking that the examination results be kept in abeyance until a transparent and independent probe is conducted.
“At a time when mistrust prevails in both regions, the only responsible course is to place the results on hold and ensure a fair inquiry,” he said.
