Thursday 18th Jun, 2026
JAMMU, Governor Satya Pal Malik today exposed more scams in the State committed during previous PDP-BJP Government saying a complete selection list of 582 candidates in Jammu and Kashmir Bank was set aside to appoint political workers in their place and raised serious question mark on the working of Public Services Commission (PSC) saying a youth was selected for KAS even without appearing in the examinations. He said the Government had recruited such youths as teachers, who had been preaching fundamentalism while Government officials were pelting stones on way back from office to homes.
Admitting that some top persons, an indirect reference towards his Advisors and bureaucrats, had misled him and made him to sign the Government Employees Medical Group Insurance Policy with Reliance General Insurance within four-five days of his office in August, Malik declared that all big fish would be booked and none spared after the Vigilance inquiry. He said he has asked the Vigilance to complete the probe within two months after which he would also file a criminal case against the accused.
In an interview with Times Now, the Governor said 40 youth approached him saying they had cleared all examinations and figured in the selection list of Jammu and Kashmir but were replaced by relatives and workers of political parties.
“I called the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Chairman. He told me that the number was not 40 but all 582 youths recruited by the Bank had been replaced with the political appointees, recommended by the leaders from every constituency. I asked the Bank Chairman to give the youth their due. I also called the Finance Secretary and finally a resolution was adopted and all 582 candidates have been given appointment letters,” he said, adding if such a justice is done with the youth, there will be no stone pelters.
“The youth were in dark…they were dejected. As there was none to help them,” he said.
When interrupted by the interviewer that the BJP was also partner with the PDP in Government when such glaring irregularities took place, Malik said it was for the BJP to reply to the allegations. However, he didn’t name the PDP-BJP.
Raising serious question mark over functioning of the PSC which had been under clout for serious discrimination with Jammu region in all recruitments made during the PDP-BJP Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti, Malik said that a youth was selected for the KAS without appearing for the examination.
“Youth with terrorist background were recruited. Some of the recruited teachers were preaching fundamentalism in the schools,” he said, adding there were instances that Government officials were found pelting stones while returning home from offices and taking Rs 500 from the separatists.
Referring to Government Group Medical Policy with Reliance General Insurance scam, the Governor without naming Advisors or senior bureaucrats, who are in the line of fire in the scam, said within four to five days of his takeover in August, they came to him and briefed him that the Policy has been well drafted and studied and was required to be implemented for benefit of employees and pensioners.
“I gave go ahead but when Government employees and others started raising fingers over the Policy, I had a detailed and fresh look at it and found discrepancies. I ordered scrapping of the contract,” he said, adding he knows who got what (in the scam), who is behind this (the Policy). “But, I will act when the inquiry is completed”.
He disclosed that he has asked the Vigilance Organization to complete the probe within two months. “I will tell the Vigilance people to stop all their work to complete the inquiry. I’m going to lodge even criminal case against those found guilty,” he said and assured that no big fish will go scot free. “All those found guilty will be punished”.
Asserting that Hurriyat Conference and separatists have only sold dreams to the people, the Governor also came down heavily on mainstream political parties, albeit wi