Former Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar on Friday raised concerns over the age limit set for the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination (JKCCE). Akhtar criticized the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for capping the maximum age for applicants at 32 years, calling it “unjust and discriminatory” given the prolonged disruptions faced by the region’s youth.
The JKCCE Preliminary Examination is scheduled to be held on November 17, 2024, but Akhtar stressed that the age limit will unfairly exclude many deserving candidates. “The youth born between 1990 and 1999 have endured repeated academic disruptions, including unrest in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, and the lockdown following Jammu & Kashmir’s reorganization in 2019,” Akhtar said, adding that the civil services examinations were suspended for two years during this transition.
Akhtar emphasized the need for a compensatory mechanism, urging the Union Territory administration to raise the upper age limit to 35 years to give affected candidates a fair chance. “The least the administration can do is offer these candidates some relief for the losses they have suffered due to years of turmoil and instability,” he said.
The PDP leader further compared J&K’s policy with those of other states. “Public service commissions in more stable states like Odisha (38 years), Uttar Pradesh (40 years), Haryana (42 years), and Himachal Pradesh (35 years) have set higher age limits. Imposing a 32-year limit in a conflict-ridden region like Jammu and Kashmir is both unfair and discriminatory,” Akhtar remarked.
He also pointed out the additional challenges faced by general category candidates under the revised reservation policies in Jammu and Kashmir. “With these new reservation rules, it is even more essential to allow open merit candidates to compete up to the age of 35. Denying them this opportunity will push them further into marginalization and exclusion from participatory governance,” he cautioned.
Akhtar concluded by urging the UT government to act promptly, stating that addressing these grievances would demonstrate the administration’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness in governance.
