Jammu | Srinagar: With just hours left for the scheduled JKPSC Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), confusion and tensions among aspirants have intensified as the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, senior political leaders, and candidates trade contradicting claims over age relaxation, administrative delays, and travel disruptions.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor on Saturday firmly rejected circulating social media allegations suggesting it had created uncertainty around the exam. Calling the claims “misleading,” Lok Bhavan clarified that no proposal regarding postponement or changes in the December 7 exam schedule had ever been sent to it by the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC).
According to the statement, the only file received on December 2 dealt exclusively with age relaxation for aspirants, a long-pending demand this season. The LG Office said the file was returned the same day after seeking clarity from the Commission on whether such last-minute eligibility changes could be operationally incorporated just days before the exam. “Despite the lapse of four days, no response was received on logistical feasibility,” the statement said, distancing the administration from claims of bottlenecks.
The LG’s office emphasized that while the Lieutenant Governor is mindful of aspirants’ concerns, the sanctity of procedures and timely communication is essential, especially for examinations involving thousands of candidates. It also cited the exam timeline, advertised on August 22 and formally notified for December 7 on November 6, as evidence that the schedule had been made clear well in advance.
Amid the administrative back-and-forth, political temperatures surged on Saturday with People’s Conference President Sajad Gani Lone slamming the government for “buck-passing spectacle.”
In a post on X, Lone criticised both verbal contradictions and the absence of formal decisions. “For heaven sake can the CM put something in writing,” Lone said, questioning why the Chief Minister’s objections or claims regarding the file were being made through “TV bytes” instead of official communication. He argued that if the CM believed the LG’s version was inaccurate, a written direction would “call the bluff” of the other side.
Joining the chorus, Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi wrote to the JKPSC on Saturday urging the Commission to postpone the exam in view of widespread airline disruptions that have stranded many candidates.
In his letter to the Chairman, Ruhullah cited repeated flight cancellations, severe delays and abrupt rescheduling over the last few days, which he said had left numerous aspirants unable to reach their designated centres, both within and outside J&K.
He argued that the situation was “entirely beyond the control of candidates” and warned that going ahead with the exam as scheduled would place many at an unfair disadvantage. Stressing the need for equal opportunity, he urged the Commission to “objectively examine the possibility of postponement,” expressing confidence that the institution would uphold fairness and transparency.
With administrative clarification on one side, political accusations on another, and travel disruptions adding practical challenges, thousands of JKPSC aspirants remain in limbo. Despite the exam being just hours away, no final word has been issued by the JKPSC on postponement, age relaxation, or schedule modification.
In a post on the social media platform X, Mufti lashed out at the “lackadaisical callous attitude” towards the aspirants, calling for the Chief Minister to intervene.
She wrote, “Enough of this lackadaisical callous attitude towards JKPSC aspirants. The CM must immediately issue an order deferring tomorrow’s exams. Given countless youngsters are stranded in other states & most importantly it was already assumed age relaxation would be approved owning to NCs verbal guarantees. Stop playing with their future & cancel tomorrow’s exam already.”
Imran Nabi Dar also joined the chorus and in a post on X said, “The path forward is clear, the LG Secretariat and JKPSC must act immediately to postpone the exam and issue a revised schedule. The future of thousands hang in the balance. The JKPSC Chairman has to take a considerate view and urgently delay the exams in favour of the aspirants.”
