HC allows over-age candidates to appear in JKP constable exam

Srinagar, Nov 29: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has granted temporary relief to a group of candidates disqualified from applying for 4002 constable posts in J&K Police due to age restrictions.
The candidates, who became overage during an eight-year gap since the last recruitment drive, can now appear for the written test on December 1, 2024.
Justice M.A. Chowdhary issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Deepak Sharma and 78 others.
The petitioners, represented by Advocate Rameshwar Singh Jamwal, argued that they were unfairly excluded due to delays caused by administrative lapses and the COVID-19 pandemic. They said they are otherwise eligible, being qualified from matriculation to post-graduation, and should be allowed to compete.
The petitioners said the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) did not offer age relaxation in its Advertisement Notification No. 01 of 2024, despite delays in holding the recruitment.
They pointed out that other departments have relaxed age limits in similar cases. For instance, the age for Sub-Inspectors was raised from 30 to 32 years in 2021, and the Union Territory of Ladakh relaxed the age limit for constables from 28 to 30 years in 2022.
The court directed JKSSB and the J&K administration to allow the petitioners to apply and appear for the test. However, it clarified that this permission does not guarantee their selection. Their appointments, if any, will depend on the final decision in the case.
“Respondents are directed to consider the candidature of the petitioners irrespective of their maximum age for the test, provisionally, along with other applicants,” the court said in an order a copy of which lies with Rising Kashmir.
The recruitment drive for 4002 constable posts in J&K Police comes after an eight-year gap. The petitioners claimed this long delay unfairly excluded many eligible candidates who aged out during the period.
The case will be taken up for further hearing on February 21, 2025. The court has also provided a copy of the order to the petitioners’ counsel.