The recent advertisement by the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for over 4,000 constable vacancies in the J&K Police has sparked significant discontent among the educated but unemployed youth of the J&K UT. While the large number of vacancies initially seemed like a positive development, the stringent upper age limit of 28 years has dashed the hopes of many aspiring candidates.
Thousands of educated young men and women in J&K, who have been eagerly awaiting such opportunities for several years, now find themselves excluded from the selection process due to the age criteria. The last time such positions were advertised was nearly six years ago, and many have since aged out of eligibility.
The affected youth are now vociferously demanding that the upper age limit be extended to at least 32 years. They argue that given the lengthy gap between recruitment drives and the persistently high unemployment rates among educated individuals in the UT, age relaxation is not just a request but a necessity. This change, they contend, would allow many more qualified candidates to compete for these coveted positions and contribute to serving the nation.
In addition to the constable vacancies, there is also a call for age relaxation in upcoming sub-inspector vacancies. The aspirants highlight that the recruitment process in J&K is notoriously slow, with such posts not being advertised annually, thereby necessitating a more flexible age criterion.
The youth of J&K express a strong desire to serve the nation, but the current upper age limit criteria have left them feeling hopeless and disenfranchised. The aggrieved youth have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of J&K and the Union Government for immediate intervention. They hope that the authorities will recognize the merit of their case and finalize the age relaxation policy promptly, ensuring that thousands of educated young individuals are not unfairly excluded from this vital recruitment process.
