Panel holds competitive exam despite age relaxation row; Lone targets Omar

Thousands of candidates turned up at designated centres across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday as the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) went ahead with the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), rejecting calls for a postponement amid widespread flight cancellations and a dispute over the upper age limit.

The examination began at 10 am as scheduled, bringing an end to last-minute uncertainty triggered by a standoff between the Lok Bhavan and the Omar Abdullah government over demands to relax the maximum age for applicants.

“The examination was successfully conducted at 53 centres across Jammu and Kashmir. Of the total 22,573 registered candidates, 13,732 appeared for the tests — a turnout of 60.83 per cent — in two sessions,” said Sachin Jamwal, JKPSC Additional Secretary and Controller of Examination.

"The examination was successfully conducted at 53 centres across Jammu and Kashmir. Of the total 22,573 registered candidates, 13,732 appeared for the tests -- a turnout of 60.83 per cent -- in two sessions," said Sachin Jamwal, JKPSC Additional Secretary and Controller of Examination.

The commission had set an upper age limit of 32 years for open-merit candidates, 34 years for reserved or in-service candidates, and 35 years for persons with disabilities. The elected government, however, had sought relaxation to 35, 37 and 38 years, respectively.

Many aspirants said they had hoped for relief. “This exam is a dream for a lot of us. We were hopeful the relaxation would come through,” a candidate waiting outside her centre said, adding that a postponement would have helped those who missed the exam.

Political reactions sharpened the debate. The People’s Conference criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for failing to secure the age relaxation. Party president and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone accused the chief minister of shifting responsibility to the Lieutenant Governor’s office and of being ineffective in addressing youths’ concerns.

“For the last year we have seen a chief minister trying to become ‘Mr Bechara’ — crying non-stop that he does not have the means to get things done,” Lone told reporters. He argued that the inaction had “crushed the dreams of thousands” who had prepared for the JKAS and demanded a detailed, point-by-point rebuttal to the L-G’s recent clarifications.

Lone pointed to the timeline of notifications, noting that the examination was first announced on August 22 and reconfirmed on November 6 for a December 7 date. “I fail to understand how much time the elected government had to process this file. Those poor youngsters had worked hard — now their chance to sit for JKAS is gone,” he said.

Dismissing that the elected government has “limited powers”, Lone pointed to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's success in a "weaker UT."

"This is a matter of incompetence. They are just not in the mood to do it. Where will they find the time? Someone should tell me. He holds many big portfolios including Finance, Revenue, Power, Tourism, Urban Development. Five departments. A person of his capabilities, it will take five people just to run Finance. It is out of the question."

The Awami Itihaad Party, led by jailed MP Engineer Rashid, said it would take the matter up with the Central government. AIP spokesperson Inam Un Nabi criticised the union territory’s current ceiling of 32 years for open-merit candidates as “far more restrictive” than most states, where upper limits often extend to 40 years, and demanded that the upper age be permanently fixed at 37 years for JKCCE and other recruitment exams. “Youth deserve a fair and stable policy in line with the rest of the country,” it said.