J&K State recruitment board in the soup, calls POK as ‘Azad Kashmir’

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) has stirred a controversy by referring to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as ‘Azad Kashmir’ in its geography question paper for an examination for the selection of patwaris (land revenue officers).
A photograph of the question, which asked the candidates to define Kashmir’s boundaries, was shared on social media on Monday.

‘J&K has an International Border with China in the north and east, and the Line of Control separates it from the Pakistan-controlled territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in… ’ the multiple choice question reads, followed by four options.

IAS officer and SSRB chairman, Simrandeep Singh has ordered the nullification of the question from the exams, which were held last week.

“We have asked for an explanation from the subject expert, who compiled the question paper,” he said, adding that the questions were not verified by the officials at SSRB. “We got to know about the question only after the exam was held,” he added.

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh has sought a high-level probe into the matter, alleging that the question was a part of a “larger conspiracy”.

“How could such an obnoxious terminology be used for PoK by the paper setters who are supposed to be highly qualified men?” he said, adding that the question was not a “misrepresentation but a highly outrageous act.”

He alleged that the question was the handiwork of separatist forces “operational within the government”.