Srinagar, Jan 21 (KNS): The declaration of the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services (Civil Judge–Junior Division) Mains Examination 2025 results has triggered protests among candidates from the Kashmir division, who have alleged large-scale irregularities and regional bias in the selection process.
The results were announced on January 20 by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC).
The recruitment process began with the issuance of the Judicial Services notification on May 14, 2025, for 42 posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division).
The Preliminary Examination, initially scheduled for September 21, was postponed and later conducted on September 28 across the Union Territory.
According to official data, 1,016 candidates qualified the preliminary examination and were allowed to appear for the Mains examination, which was held between November 16 and November 26, 2025.
Candidates said that unofficial estimates suggested that nearly 600 candidates from the Kashmir division had cleared the preliminary stage.
However, the Mains results showed that only 13 candidates from Kashmir were shortlisted for the viva voce stage out of a total of 124 candidates, with the remaining candidates reportedly belonging to the Jammu division.
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The sharp decline in the number of Kashmir-based candidates progressing from the prelims to the interview stage has raised questions about the evaluation process, the aspirants said.
Several candidates alleged that the outcome reflected systematic exclusion and demanded greater transparency in the assessment of answer scripts. They said such a disparity could not be explained solely on merit and required an independent review.
Aspirants have also alleged that candidates from one examination centre in Srinagar were shown to have failed en masse, raising concerns that answer scripts from the centre may not have been evaluated. Candidates from the centre have sought clarification from the commission regarding the evaluation status of their papers.
The protesting candidates have demanded publication of marks, disclosure of evaluation criteria, and release of centre-wise data. They have also sought an independent inquiry into the conduct of the examination and the evaluation process.
They said any alleged irregularity in a judicial services examination was a serious matter, as the process is meant to recruit members of the judiciary.
There was no immediate response from the JKPSC to the allegations.(KNS).