J&K Exam Age Row: Omar Abdullah vs LG Over Delay Fueling Uncertainty
J&K Exam Age Row: Omar Abdullah vs LG Over Delay Fueling Uncertainty
A political clash over age relaxation for JKPSC exams leaves aspirants anxious as Dec 7 approaches amid claims and counter-claims from leaders.
SRINAGAR: A political face-off erupted over age relaxation for Jammu and Kashmir's civil services exam, with the chief minister accusing the Lieutenant Governor of delaying a crucial file and the Raj Bhavan countering that misleading claims are circulating. Abdullah said uncertainty has gripped aspirants because of the delay in approving age relaxation, a provision granted multiple times in the past, and urged JKPSC to postpone the combined competitive (preliminary) exam. He also cited travel chaos caused by ongoing airline disruptions. The row comes as student protests demand an increase in the age limit. J&K currently caps the age at 32 for open-category candidates and 37 for reserved categories. Aspirants note that other states such as Uttarakhand and Haryana allow candidates up to 42 years, while UP, MP and Rajasthan set the limit at 40. With five days left for the exam, thousands of candidates remain caught between a stalled decision and the risk of missing what many call a once-in-a-year chance. The LG’s office said it received the age relaxation file on Dec 2 and returned it the same day with a query on whether it was “logistically possible” to alter eligibility criteria so close to the exam. “Despite lapse of four days Lok Bhavan did not receive any response. I fully sympathise with young aspirants,” the statement said, adding that social media posts on the issue were “misleading.” The LG’s office also underlined that JKPSC had published the exam advertisement on Aug 22 and notified Dec 7 as the exam date on Oct 6. NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq had earlier claimed the CM had already approved the age relaxation proposal and forwarded it to the LG on Dec 2. After the LG’s statement, Sadiq said there was “absolutely no reason for any further queries” if the file had already been cleared by the CM. As thousands await clarity, the potential ripple effects of the delay loom large for those preparing for what many see as a once-in-a-year opportunity.
Cover image source: File on JKPSC exam returned same day; no response received for 4 days: L-G office 🔗
