“If UPSC can consider granting an extra attempt due to pandemic, why is JKPSC so adamant and rigid”
Sanchita Raina
The recently released short notice for the conduct of Combined Competitive Preliminary Exam-2021 (JKAS) by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has evoked strong resentment among the aspirants, who termed the provision of SRO-103 ‘prejudiced’.
According to the provision contained in the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examinations (CCE) Rules 2018 (SRO-103), every candidate appearing in the examination who is otherwise eligible, shall be permitted six attempts at the examination.
However, this restriction will not apply in the case of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates who are otherwise eligible and the number of attempts permissible to candidates belonging to RBA, Social Castes & ALC, who are otherwise eligible, shall be nine.
Physically challenged candidates will get as many attempts as are available to other non-physically challenged candidates of his or her community, subject to the condition that a physically challenged candidate belonging to the General Category shall be eligible for nine attempts.
With regard to the age, the concerned SRO states that the aspirant must have attained the age of 21 years but not attained the age of 32 years on 1st January of the year in which notification inviting applications is issued by the Commission.
The upper age limit shall be 34 years, in case of candidates belonging to Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes/ RBA/Social Castes/ALC and candidates holding a civil post in the union territory in substantive capacity
The upper age limit for physically challenged candidates shall be 35 years irrespective of the category to which such a candidate belongs. Further a candidate who has completed 02 years service on 1st January of the year in which notification inviting applications is issued by the Commission in substantive capacity to be certified by his, Head of Department, shall alone, be eligible to claim the benefit of upper age limit under the above clause. However, for good and sufficient reasons, to be recorded in writing, the Government may prescribe for any particular examination any other upper age limit for open category and reserved category candidates.
JKPSC has issued a short notice for the information of all candidates that the commission has received requisition from the government for carrying out recruitment to around 257 posts through combined competitive examination, 2021 and these vacancies shall be filled up in accordance with the provisions contained in the Jammu and Kashmir combined competitive examination rules 2018 (SRO-103).
Official notification and inviting Application for the preliminary examination is likely to be issued in the 3rd week of January.
Many aspirants took on to the social media and castigated the notice and termed it sheer injustice with the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
“JKPSC is insensitive towards the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and this particular notice speaks volumes about their inconsiderateness and incompetence viz a viz understanding aspirations of the youth and need of invoking pro-youth examination policy,” said an agitated aspirant, wishing not to be named, adding that from the past several years, many aspirants have been burning midnight oil for this examination, but this particular notice has expelled them out of the competition in a single stroke.
He asserted that the commission is towing the line of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
“It is good, if JKPSC is following examination pattern of UPSC, but they need to understand and realize that UPSC conducts smooth and regular examinations, whereas JKPSC conducts exams once in two to three years,” said aspirant, adding that how can they follow UPSC without following their way of smooth and regular conduct of examinations.
Another aspirant from Jammu, Abhijit said that though this notice has brought relief for many young aspirants, it has plunged many serious and assiduous candidates into darkness.
“This notice has come almost after three years, thus the candidates who had appeared in the last CCE was in 2018 and suppose his/her age at that time was 29, he is outrightly ineligible for these posts,” said Abhijit, adding that commission is ‘legally and morally wrong’ with their approach.
He stated that such provisions are legal and suitable for commissions, which conduct regular examinations, wherein candidates get a minimum of four attempts.
“This notice has left many dedicated candidates forlorn with only one or two chances or attempts to qualify the coveted post,” said Abhijit, adding that the commission must consider this factor also and only implement provisions of SRO-103 once they (commission) ensures regular examinations.
He maintained that even UPSC has been mulling to grant an extra attempt to the aspirants due to uncertainty in the wake of covid-19 pandemic.
“If UPSC can consider granting an extra attempt due to pandemic, why is JKPSC so adamant and rigid, when they know that due to their incompetence and indiscretion, these examinations could not be made regular feature so far,” disgruntled youth, said and added the commission must reconsider their decision for the welfare of aspirants.
Talking to The Typewriter, Chairman JKPSC, BR Sharma said that SRO is being issued by the government and commission has nothing to do with it. “It is a government policy decision and whatever government decides has to be invoked by the commission,” said Sharma.
