Avinash Azad
In what could be one of the most glaring examples of systemic rot in Jammu and Kashmir’s bureaucracy, a backdoor appointment made during the Governor’s Rule (which remained in place from 1990 to 1996 due to militancy) and under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 1996 Assembly elections has today propelled its beneficiary to the coveted rank of a Special Secretary–level officer in the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS).
The case centres around Jasmeet Singh, presently posted as Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Jammu, whose initial entry into government service allegedly bypassed every legal and administrative norm. Sources allege that Singh was fraudulently appointed as a Social Worker in the Social Welfare Department on 27 August 1996, when the MCC — imposed by the Election Commission of India — strictly barred all appointments and promotions without prior clearance.
Shockingly, the appointment was allegedly executed by Singh’s own father, then District Social Welfare Officer, Jammu, by fabricating an appointment order with fake signatures of the then Commissioner/Secretary and using an unauthorised order number. Even more damning is the fact that Singh’s first salary was reportedly drawn in October 1996, still under the MCC’s prohibitions.
As per the recruitment norms in force in 1996, only the J&K Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSB) was competent to fill such divisional cadre posts. That year, the SSSB selected only ten candidates — all appointed after the MCC was lifted in November 1996. Singh’s name was not among them.
Multiple court judgments — including by the Supreme Court and the J&K High Court — have held that any appointment made through fraudulent means or without the approval of the competent authority is null and void and warrants removal from service after verifying service book entries.
Despite these legal provisions, Singh was later inducted into JKAS, reportedly with the backing of senior officials in the General Administration Department (GAD). This effectively legitimised what began as an illegal entry into service.
Adding to the controversy, Singh’s bio-data on the GAD’s official portal allegedly misrepresents his initial appointment as that of a Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, when in fact he was posted as a Social Worker — a deliberate misstatement that conceals the illegal nature of his entry.
Sources further allege that Singh’s recent appointment as RTO Jammu was facilitated by the influence of a senior National Conference leader, currently holding a key political post, and his former Officer on Special Duty closely associated with him.
The GAD’s reported move to grant Singh the JKAS Selection Grade — without verifying the legitimacy of his initial appointment — has raised eyebrows within bureaucratic and political circles, fuelling suspicion that there is a deliberate attempt to shield him and similar cases. Public accountability activists and government insiders are now demanding a high-level inquiry into the matter to determine:
How an individual with a fraudulent entry during the MCC was inducted into JKAS.
Which officers facilitated the induction despite glaring irregularities.
Why no verification of service records was done before promotions and grade releases.
Legal experts assert that if the allegations are proved, not only should Singh be removed from service, but every official who overlooked the illegality must face departmental and criminal action.
“This is not just about one fraudulent appointment,” a senior retired bureaucrat told The Hidden News. “It’s about an entire chain of complicity that undermines merit, violates law, and erodes public trust in governance.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during a function in Srinagar, had claimed that there are 2.5 lakh backdoor appointees enjoying bureaucratic patronage. Reliable sources reveal that a majority of such backdoor appointments took place in J&K during 1990–96, when there was Governor’s Rule, and bureaucrats, abusing their authority, adjusted their relatives and friends through illegal means.
Since the scam was orchestrated by bureaucrats and not by an elected government, the Omar Abdullah government should order an inquiry into what could be the biggest scam in J&K, which deprived genuine candidates of their rights and made “blue-eyed” individuals’ fortunes overnight. Our team tried to reach out to Mr. Jasmeet Singh for his comments, but the queries sent to his mobile phone remained unanswered. If he responds, the same will be updated as and when received.
