Srinagar, Aug 3 (KNS) Thousands of aspirants of the Jammu & Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination (JKCCE) have submitted a formal representation demanding permanent restoration of the upper age limit to 37 years for open merit candidates, terming the existing 32-year cap as the lowest in the country and a major administrative anomaly.
In a public interest appeal issued here, the aspirants' community highlighted that major states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, and Telangana have age limits ranging from 37 to 44 years. They pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir's current baseline of 32 years is exceptionally restrictive, especially when the Union Territory grapples with an unemployment rate of 6.7 per cent — nearly double the national average of 3.7 per cent.
The representation further asserted that age-relaxed candidates have consistently secured top ranks in final selection lists, citing official JKPSC recommendation data. "We are not seeking ad-hoc, one-time relief measures that prolong uncertainty and lead to recurring litigation.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelWe demand permanent statutory reform," the aspirants stated.
Their charter of demands includes permanent restoration of the open merit age limit to at least 37 years with corresponding relaxation for reserved categories, and removal of attempt restrictions to achieve administrative parity with other states.
The appeal comes amid growing political consensus on the issue. Earlier this year, the J&K Legislative Assembly accepted a private member's resolution on age relaxation, while National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmad and AIP MP Engineer Rashid have separately written to the Lieutenant Governor and the Union Home Minister, seeking a permanent resolution to the age eligibility crisis.
The aspirant community has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the J&K administration to initiate immediate statutory reforms, asserting that a permanent fix alone can end the recurring cycle of uncertainty and litigation affecting thousands of educated youth in the Union Territory. (KNS)