JKAS Exam: CM & LG trade blame over age relaxation

07/12/2025

SRINAGAR, Dec 6: A tussle between Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah burst into the open on Saturday as the two offices traded blame over the age-relaxation decision, adding to the confusion and anxiety among thousands of JKAS aspirants set to appear for the exam on Sunday.
Chief Minister Omar and several J&K leaders on Saturday urged the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) to postpone the JKCCE, citing mounting uncertainty caused by the pending approval of age relaxation for aspirants.
The examination, scheduled for tomorrow, will determine selection for the prestigious J&K Administrative Service, J&K Police Service and J&K Accounts Service.
In a post on X, Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the travel chaos caused by the ongoing airline issues, compounded by the uncertainty resulting from Lok Bhavan's delay in approving age relaxation, a provision granted multiple times in the past.
"He urged JKPSC to take note of the unprecedented stress on aspirants and consider postponing the exam in the interest of fairness and equal opportunity for all," the office of the CM said.
However, the office of the LG issued a detailed clarification, saying the age-relaxation file was received and returned on December 2 with a query, but no response was received for four days.
"Social media posts with regard to JKPSC exam are misleading. Lok Bhavan had received the file on 2nd Dec, 2025 which was categorically related to Age Relaxation only. File was returned the same day, 2nd Dec, 2025, with a query whether it is logistically possible to conduct exam on 7th Dec, by incorporating modifications in eligibility criteria at such a belated stage," the LG's office said on X.
It added, "Despite lapse of 4 days Lok Bhavan did not receive any response. I fully sympathize with young aspirants. The advertisement notice for the examination was published by the J&K Public Service Commission on 22.08.2025. The exam was notified to be conducted on 07.12.2025 through a notice on 06.11.2025."
The row intensified as National Conference spokesman and MLA Tanvir Sadiq questioned the LG administration's stance, asking why queries were raised on a matter concerning students.
"If the concern was truly for students and their well-being, then why were queries raised on a process that they themselves had followed for years without any objection? If this was not a deliberate attempt to delay the process, then what is?" Sadiq asked.
He said the elected government had already cleared the relaxation proposal and that the Chief Minister wrote to the JKPSC chairman seeking postponement of the exam.
All that is required is for them to act without any further delay!" he said on X, while posting the CM's letter.
In his letter, Omar Abdullah highlighted both the large-scale travel disruptions and the unresolved age-relaxation issue as sources of severe distress for candidates.
..The ongoing disruption in the air services has caused widespread travel chaos across the region. This is further compounded by the prevailing uncertainty arising due to the delay in the proposal regarding age relaxation-an enabling provision that has been extended multiple times in the past. Together, these factors have placed unprecedented mental and logistical stress on the competing candidates," the CM in the letter said.
Appealing for a compassionate approach, he urged the Commission to delay the exam by a reasonable period.
"In view of the above, and keeping in mind the principles of fairness, equity and equal opportunity for all aspirants, I would urge the Commission to take cognizance of the prevailing circumstances and consider postponement of the forthcoming examination by a reasonable duration, purely in the interest of the candidates. I am confident that the Commission, as always, will take a compassionate and balanced view of the matter in larger public interest," he added.
J&K People's Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone said the JKAS age relaxation issue is turning out yet another classical case of passing the buck at the cost of young aspirants.
"First CM posted suggesting that he had no role in the scuttling of the age relaxation file. And now the LG has suggested that the had sent the file back on 2nd of December. ..For heaven sake can the CM put something in writing. CM office cannot be run through TV bytes. What stops him from issuing written orders. Let them defy written orders. If the other side is falsifying facts. Let us call their bluff. Every single day we have a moaning CM complaining about his file being turned down. Yet nothing in the form of written communication," he said on X.
Earlier the day, Peoples Democratic Party chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that aspirants are caught in a tussle between the LG and the CM.
She urged LG and CM to step in and resolve this issue without any further delay.

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