Senior PDP leader and former Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Naeem Akhtar, has expressed strong disapproval of the age restriction imposed on candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination (JKCCE). On Friday, Akhtar called out the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for enforcing an age limit of 32 years, labelling it “unfair and biased” in light of the significant hardships faced by the region’s young population.
The JKCCE Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 17 November 2024, but Akhtar fears that the current age limit will unjustly exclude numerous deserving candidates. He pointed out that individuals born between 1990 and 1999 have endured consistent educational interruptions, notably during periods of unrest in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, and following Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganisation in 2019. He highlighted that civil service exams were also halted for two years during this transition.
Akhtar urged the Union Territory administration to raise the age cap to 35 years, arguing that this adjustment would provide a fairer opportunity for affected candidates. “The administration could at least offer these candidates some relief, recognising the setbacks they’ve faced due to ongoing instability,” he said.
The PDP leader also compared J&K’s policy with other states, citing higher age limits for civil service exams in states like Odisha (38 years), Uttar Pradesh (40 years), Haryana (42 years), and Himachal Pradesh (35 years). Imposing a 32-year age cap in a region marked by conflict, he argued, is both unjust and discriminatory.
Akhtar also addressed additional difficulties faced by candidates in the general category under Jammu and Kashmir’s revised reservation policies. “With the new reservation rules, it’s even more crucial to allow open merit candidates to compete up to the age of 35. Denying them this chance risks further marginalising them and excluding them from governance opportunities,” he cautioned.
He concluded by urging the UT administration to act swiftly, stating that addressing these concerns would reflect a commitment to fairness and inclusivity in governance.
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