J&K LG & CM spar over age relaxation for job aspirants amid protests

Dec 7, 2025 J&K LG & CM spar over age relaxation for job aspirants amid protests Jobs & News Desk

Amid growing protests from job aspirants over the age relaxation issue, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday (December 6, 2025) accused each other for the delay.

Mr. Abdullah wrote a letter to J&K Public Service Commission Chairman Arun Kumar Choudhary to postpone the upcoming civil services examination scheduled for December 7.

“I am writing in the context of the extraordinary situation presently confronting the aspirants of J&K Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination-2025. The ongoing disruption in the air services has caused widespread travel chaos across the region. This is further compounded by the prevailing uncertainty arising due to the delay in the proposal regarding age relaxation- an enabling provision that has been extended multiple times in the past,” Mr. Abdullah said, in the letter.

The J&K Chief Minister said the Commission should take cognisance of the prevailing circumstances and consider postponement by a reasonable duration, keeping in mind the principles of fairness, equity and equal opportunity for all aspirants.

Hundreds of job aspirants who have crossed the age bar of 32 are unable to sit for the examination. The Open Merit aspirants are protesting to increase the current upper age limit from 32 to 37 to bring it at par with the rest of the country.

In spite of the Chief Minister’s letter, the JKPSC has decided to go ahead with the examination. As the Chief Minister’s Secretariat had forwarded the age relaxation proposal to the Lok Bhavan on December 2, L-G Sinha blamed the government for the delay.

“The Lok Bhavan was never sent any proposal related to postponement or restructuring of the examination schedule. The file received at Lok Bhavan on December 2, 2025, was categorically related only to the issue of age relaxation. The file was examined and returned on the same day with a specific query on whether it was logistically feasible to conduct the examination on December 7 by incorporating modifications in eligibility criteria at such a late stage,” the Lok Bhavan said, in a statement.

It said that despite the lapse of four days after returning the file, the Lok Bhavan did not receive any response on the logistical feasibility. “It firmly rejects suggestions that delays or uncertainty originated from the LG’s office. The L-G fully sympathises with the concerns of young aspirants, but emphasised that due process and administrative clarity are essential, particularly when examinations of large scale are involved,” it added.

Responding to the L-G’s statement, NC leader and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said, “There was no justification for raising fresh queries once the elected government had already cleared the file. What had been followed as correct practice for years could not suddenly be questioned now. The Chief Minister had clearly stated that the examinations should have been postponed.”

Terming it “unnecessary political interference”, Mr. Sadiq said, “Energy was being spent on creating confusion rather than resolving the grievance of aspirants”.

“The party’s stand on the matter was unambiguous. Age relaxation must be granted, and the examinations must be postponed,” Mr. Sadiq added.

As the Chief Minister’s office and the L-G are engaged in a blame game, aspirants have hit streets in Srinagar and Jammu.

“Aspirants are facing emotional breakdowns, panic attacks, and severe financial stress solely because no final, written order has been issued clarifying age relaxation or the conduct of the examination. This prolonged uncertainty is crushing years of hard work, sacrifice, and hope,” the J&K Students Association (JKSA) said.

On behalf of thousands of aspirants and their families, the JKSA said, “We urgently appeal to L-G Sinha to issue a swift, final, and written decision and to direct JKPSC to defer the examination by one week.”

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti criticised the government’s approach. “Enough of this lackadaisical, callous attitude towards JKPSC aspirants. The CM must immediately issue an order deferring tomorrow’s exams. Given that countless youngsters are stranded in other states, and most importantly, it was already assumed age relaxation would be approved owing to NCs verbal guarantees,” Ms. Mufti said.