Pressure mounts on Raj Bhavan to grant age relaxation to job aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir

Pressure mounted on the Raj Bhawan on Friday (December 5, 2025), with the entire political spectrum, including the ruling National Conference (NC) and Opposition BJP, calling for age relaxation for job aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir.

There are growing protests in J&K by the aspirants under the open merit category, demanding that the current upper age limit be raised from 32 to 37. “The demand is genuine and justified, especially because J&K continues to be the only Union Territory with such a low upper age limit of 32 years for open merit candidates. Many aspirants have lost crucial years of preparation due to circumstances beyond their control, and justice must be delivered before the examination,” said Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) national convenor Nasir Khuehami.

All eyes are on the Raj Bhawan as the Chief Minister’s Secretariat forwarded the age relaxation proposal to it on December 2. The BJP has claimed that the government has not completed the required formalities.

“The NC government has delayed the proposal on age relaxation. It should have taken place four months ago. The L-G has pointed out formalities. However, the government has not replied to it. The L-G has assured to approve it once formalities are completed,” BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who met the L-G on Thursday, said.

Aspirants who are appearing for the J&K Public Service examination on December 7 are up in arms. Danish Iqbal, an aspirant, has started a huner strike in Srinagar.

“As I write this at 7:45 PM from Joggers Park, Rajbagh, Srinagar, I have commenced an indefinite hunger strike. This hunger protest will continue until the government issues the order for age relaxation for JKAS aspirants. I appeal to everyone to remain calm and peaceful throughout,” said Mr. Iqbal.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para also wrote a letter to the L-G. “Thousands of youngsters had lost crucial preparation years due to circumstances beyond their control and were now anxiously awaiting relief. Prolonged silence has created uncertainty and distress among aspirants who are holding on to their hopes for a fair chance,” Mr. Parra said, in the letter.

He said a timely decision would restore confidence in public institutions. “After receiving numerous calls from students about the upcoming exams, I’ve written to the L-G requesting age relaxation for JKPSC aspirants. The system our youth aspire to serve should stand by them, not shut them out,” Mr. Parra said.

J&K Peoples Conference president and legislator Sajad Lone said, “The CM Office says it has sent the file to the L-G Office, and the L-G Office has apparently sent it back to approve the logistical costs, creating a circular bureaucratic impasse that offers no certainty to those preparing for a career-defining examination.”

Mr. Lone said that the average age limit for All India Open Merit is 38 years as against 32 years in J&K. “Fail to understand if every single rule has been applied in J&K post 2019, why this rule has not been applied,” he added.

Mr. Lone said the government has, in its typical Quixotic style, subjected aspirants to unprecedented miseries mired in ambiguities.