JKPSI Age Limit: A Barrier to Dreams for J&K’s Aspiring Police Officers
- NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi raised concerns in the Lok Sabha about the JKPSI recruitment age limit (18-28), arguing that it has unfairly disqualified many aspirants due to delays in the process.
- Former J&K minister and BJP leader Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar echoed these concerns, advocating for a more realistic age range of 21-31, citing the graduation requirement and recent challenges faced by J&K youth.
- The demands for age relaxation highlight the impact of the reorganization of J&K, the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment scams, and subsequent delays in recruitment processes on aspirants’ careers.
- With leaders from both NC and BJP calling for change, the onus is on the BJP-led central government and the UT administration to address the issue and provide a fair opportunity for J&K’s aspiring police officers.
jj correspondent
Jammu, Dec 16: The age limit for the Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector (JKPSI) recruitment process has become a contentious issue, with political leaders from both the National Conference and the BJP calling for its revision. They argue that the current criteria are unrealistic and have unfairly disqualified numerous aspiring candidates, particularly in light of the numerous challenges faced by the youth of Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi raised the issue in the Lok Sabha on Monday, urging the Central Government to grant a one-time age relaxation for JKPSI aspirants. He highlighted the inordinate delays in the recruitment process, primarily attributed to irregularities linked to the recruitment agency APTECH. These delays, spanning four years, have rendered many qualified candidates ineligible due to exceeding the upper age limit of 28 years.
“This situation has deprived deserving individuals of the opportunity to serve in the police force,” stated Mehdi, expressing concern for the growing uncertainty among J&K’s youth. He believes that a one-time age relaxation would not only address this injustice but also help restore faith in the recruitment process.
Echoing these concerns, former Jammu and Kashmir Minister and senior BJP leader Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar also demanded a revision of the JKPSI recruitment age criteria. He advocated for increasing the age range from the current 18-28 years to 21-31 years, arguing that the current minimum age of 18 is unrealistic, as most candidates do not graduate by that age, which is a prerequisite for the SI position.
Kumar pointed out that while the educational qualification for the post was raised to graduation from class 12 in 2010, the minimum age remained unchanged at 18. He criticized the oversight in previous recruitment cycles, including the recent filling of 1200 SI positions, where this discrepancy was not addressed. He assured aspirants that he would raise the issue with the J&K UT administration. He also commended Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his proactive approach in addressing youth-related issues, especially unemployment, adding that an age relaxation would help provide much-needed employment opportunities in this area.
Crucial Years Lost, Age Relaxation Is the Need of The Hour:
The demands for age relaxation are underscored by the numerous challenges faced by students in J&K in recent years: the reorganization of the state in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, recruitment scams in 2022, and halted recruitment processes in 2023 and 2024. These disruptions have significantly impacted students’ academic and career paths, justifying a one-time age relaxation of five years, similar to what has been granted by several state governments, the SSC, RRB, and JKPSC.
Furthermore, raising the age limit would not compromise the quality of candidates, as the recruitment process includes a second-phase physical test to assess their fitness.
The calls for age relaxation in the JKPSI recruitment process highlight the need for a more realistic and equitable approach that considers the unique challenges faced by the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. It remains to be seen whether the BJP-led central government and the UT administration will heed these calls and take the necessary steps to provide a fair opportunity for all aspiring candidates. With BJP leader Sukhnandan Kumar advocating for age relaxation, it is imperative that he raise the issue not only with the LG but also with the central BJP leadership, who ultimately hold the power to make this crucial decision. The future of countless aspiring police officers in Jammu and Kashmir hangs in the balance.
