Srinagar, Sep 01: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has decided to prohibit M/s MeritTrac Private Limited from organising any examinations in the region for the next two years. The decision was made by JKSSB Chairman Rajesh Sharma after careful consideration of various reports.
The JKSSB has found that MeritTrac Private Limited did not maintain the necessary confidentiality and security for the question papers and examinations conducted in March 2022. These exams included those for the positions of Accounts Assistant (Finance Department), Junior Engineer (Civil, Jal Shakti Department), and Sub Inspector (Home Department). As a result, these exams had to be cancelled, causing disruptions.
The Board has accused MeritTrac Private Limited of failing to uphold the required secrecy and security standards for these Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) based exams. Despite being entrusted with the responsibility of conducting these examinations securely and fairly, the agency’s actions fell short of expectations.
The JKSSB went through a proper procedure, including giving MeritTrac Private Limited a chance to explain itself, before deciding on punitive measures. After reviewing the agency’s response, the Board concluded that the agency had not taken adequate steps to ensure the integrity and security of the examination process.
Considering the guidance of the General Administration Department and the opinion of the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, the JKSSB determined that MeritTrac Pvt Ltd did not conduct the exams in a fair and transparent manner, as required by the terms and conditions of the work order.
As a result, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the GFR-2017, MeritTrac Pvt. Ltd. will be banned from conducting any examinations in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for a period of two years. If the agency is convicted in the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), this period of blacklisting may be extended for an additional year.
