Aspirants seek 10-year age relaxation for J&K Bank recruitment
Candidates are requesting the bank to increase the upper age limit for open merit posts from 30 to 40 years.
Job aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir are demanding a 10-year relaxation in the upper age limit for J&K Bank recruitment. According to the Daily Excelsior, candidates want the limit raised from 30 to 40 years, arguing that prolonged gaps in recruitment have deprived many of opportunities despite years of preparation.
The bank announced recruitment for 1,356 posts, including 323 Probationary Officers (POs) and 1,033 Banking Associates. The recruitment process began on November 7, with the upper age limit for Open Merit and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates fixed at 30 years.
Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo backed the demand, stating on X that thousands of aspirants have lost precious years waiting for opportunities. Higher and School Education Minister Shamim Firdous also termed the 30-year limit unfair, noting that the youth have become over aged due to a lack of major recruitment drives in recent years.
Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para questioned why the bank should not grant the same 40-year age limit applicable to recruitments conducted by the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB). Para also raised concerns regarding the bank's reservation policy.
The J&K Students Association (JKSA) has written to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, requesting his intervention. JKSA national spokesperson Zubair Reshi said the 30-year limit has left thousands of deserving aspirants excluded after a nearly six-year gap since the previous recruitment cycle.
The JKSA noted that the upper age limit for PO posts in the previous recruitment was 32 years. J&K Bank has not announced any decision on the demand so far.