Hakeem Yaseen seeks permanent settlement of job aspirants' age bar

Srinagar, Dec 7: President of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister Hakeem Mohammed Yaseen on Sunday said that aspirants appearing for the Jammu & Kashmir Administrative and Police Services examinations have been consistently demanding age relaxation for the past five to six years, and the government should have addressed the issue well in time.

In a press release, Hakeem Yaseen said the government must seriously consider the concerns of these candidates, who represent the future officers of Jammu and Kashmir. “These aspirants are the future of our UT. Their concerns deserved timely and genuine consideration,” he said.

He added that although the examination has now been conducted—“with or without considering the demand of aspirants”—the administration must ensure such issues are handled with seriousness in the future. He noted that candidates who could not appear this time due to the age bar may get another opportunity if the government revisits and relaxes the upper age limit.

Referring to national standards, Hakeem Yaseen said that at the All-India level the upper age limit for civil services is 40 years, and a similar rule can be implemented in Jammu & Kashmir, where thousands of youth are unemployed. “This cat-and-mouse game must end. Justice should be delivered to aspirants who raise genuine concerns,” he said.

Hakeem Yasin said the government must find a permanent solution to this issue instead of playing a constant cat-and-mouse game with aspirants, stressing that clear and consistent policies are essential to prevent uncertainty and ensure fairness for future candidates