The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has sought an increase in the upper age limit for Jammu and Kashmir Bank recruitment to 40 years for Open Merit candidates, arguing that the existing eligibility criteria could shut out thousands of aspirants who have waited nearly six years for fresh employment opportunities.In a representation submitted to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on November 9, the association urged him to intervene with the bank management and concerned authorities to reconsider the age criteria prescribed in the latest recruitment notification. The notification sets the upper age limit at 30 years, a provision JKSA has termed restrictive in view of the prolonged gap between recruitment cycles.National spokesperson Dr Zubair Reshi, who wrote the letter on behalf of the association, said candidates should not be penalised for delays in the recruitment process, particularly when they have continued preparing for competitive banking examinations without clarity on the availability of fresh vacancies.
JKSA seeks restoration of previous age limit for PO recruitment
One of the primary concerns raised by the association is the reduction in the upper age limit for Probationary Officer (PO) posts. According to JKSA, the previous J&K Bank recruitment cycle prescribed an upper age limit of 32 years for PO aspirants, whereas the latest notification has brought it down to 30 years.The association has demanded that the bank restore the earlier 32-year limit at the minimum. It has also sought additional age relaxation to compensate for the years lost between the two recruitment cycles.JKSA argued that the nearly six-year interruption in fresh recruitment has directly affected the eligibility of several candidates. Aspirants who were within the prescribed age bracket during the previous recruitment cycle may have crossed the upper age limit while waiting for the next opportunity.The association has therefore urged the bank to consider the circumstances of these candidates rather than apply the revised eligibility criteria without accounting for the recruitment gap.
Association cites JKSSB’s 40-year age limit for Open Merit candidates
Seeking a broader revision of the eligibility framework, JKSA has also referred to the recruitment practices of the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB).The association pointed out that JKSSB generally allows Open Merit candidates an upper age limit of up to 40 years in its recruitment processes. It has urged J&K Bank to examine similar provisions and extend the upper age limit to 40 years for Open Merit aspirants.According to the representation, such a move would expand the pool of eligible applicants and provide a fair opportunity to candidates who have remained outside the recruitment process for several years.JKSA maintained that the responsibility for delayed recruitment cannot be placed on job seekers, particularly when the gap is beyond their control. It said the age criteria should account for the time lost between recruitment notifications and ensure that eligible candidates are not excluded solely because of administrative delays.The association has sought similar age-related relief for candidates applying for Banking Associate posts.
JKSA flags distribution of 1,356 vacancies, seeks transparency
Apart from the age-limit issue, the association has raised concerns over the distribution of vacancies under the existing reservation framework.Of the 1,356 posts advertised by Jammu and Kashmir Bank, approximately 542 have been earmarked for the Open Merit category, while the remaining vacancies have been distributed among reserved categories, according to the association.JKSA has urged the competent authorities to examine the vacancy distribution and ensure transparency, equitable representation and adequate opportunities for all eligible candidates.It has also emphasised that any review of the recruitment process must respect the constitutional framework governing reservation and the rights of candidates belonging to different categories.The association’s representation seeks a balance between the rights of reserved-category candidates and the concerns of Open Merit aspirants, particularly in the context of the long gap preceding the latest recruitment notification.
Association seeks LG’s intervention before recruitment progresses
JKSA has requested Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take up the matter with J&K Bank management and the concerned authorities before the recruitment process advances further.Its primary demand is to increase the upper age limit to 40 years for Open Merit candidates. If the bank does not consider the proposal feasible, the association has urged it to restore the previous 32-year upper age limit for PO candidates and provide additional relaxation to account for the intervening years.It has also sought comparable consideration for Banking Associate aspirants so that candidates affected by the prolonged recruitment gap are not denied an opportunity to compete.The latest recruitment announcement has generated expectations among Jammu and Kashmir’s educated unemployed youth after nearly six years without a comparable recruitment cycle. However, JKSA has argued that the opportunity must be accompanied by eligibility conditions that take the prolonged wait into account.The association has maintained that recruitment should offer a genuine opportunity to qualified candidates rather than exclude a section of aspirants on account of an age limit that does not reflect the time lost between successive recruitment exercises. The final decision on the proposed relaxation rests with the bank management and the competent authorities.
