Jharkhand HC grants interim relief to aspirants seeking age relaxation in JPSC Civil Services exam
Ranchi, Feb 12
The Jharkhand High Court has granted interim relief to 22 candidates seeking relaxation in the upper age limit for the Jharkhand Public Service Commission's 14th Civil Services Examination.
Hearing a petition filed by Kishore Kumar and others on Thursday, Justice Ananda Sen directed the JPSC to accept the petitioners' applications, ensuring they are not excluded from the recruitment process.
However, the court made it clear that the declaration of their results and any subsequent appointments will be subject to the final court order.
The petitioners, represented by advocate Amritansh Vats, argued that under the 2021 Recruitment Rules, the Civil Services Examination is to be conducted annually. They contended that as a result of the irregular conduct of the examination, several candidates crossed the upper age limit, and no relaxation has been given to them.
The plea further pointed out that while the upper age limit was relaxed in the previous two examinations, the cut-off date for calculating the maximum age in the current examination has been fixed as August 1, 2026. According to the petitioners, this has made many candidates ineligible; however, the delay is purely due to the Commission.
After hearing the arguments, the court directed the Commission to accept the applications of the petitioners so that they are not deprived of an opportunity to compete. It reiterated that their participation would remain provisional and subject to the court's final decision.
The next date of hearing will be notified later.
The JPSC recently issued an advertisement for the 14th Civil Services Examination, with online applications opening on January 31. The last date to apply is February 14, while the examination fee can be paid until 5 p.m. on February 16.
A total of 103 posts are to be filled through the examination. These include 28 Deputy Collector posts, 42 Deputy Superintendent of Police posts, 10 State Public Relations Officer posts, 10 Assistant Municipal Commissioner/Executive Officer posts, four Probation Officer posts, three Assistant Director (Women and Child Development) posts, two Jail Superintendent posts, two District Superintendent posts, and two Assistant Registrar posts.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some sense prevails. The JPSC should have shown some empathy. If age was relaxed for the last two exams, why not for this one? The cut-off date of August 2026 seems arbitrary when the exam is happening now. Good step by the court.
While I sympathize with the candidates, I hope this doesn't set a precedent for endless litigation for every exam. The system needs to be more efficient from the start. The provisional participation clause is crucial—fair to all sides.
As someone who has seen friends struggle with government exam cycles, this is a huge relief. The mental and financial investment is massive. The court has rightly protected their opportunity. Now JPSC must ensure timely exams in the future.
The petitioners' lawyer made a strong point about the annual exam rule. If the Commission fails to conduct it on time, they can't punish candidates. This interim order is a tight slap on the JPSC's inefficiency. Bhagwan in sab aspirants ka saath de!
A balanced verdict. Allows candidates to apply but doesn't guarantee final selection until the case is decided. However, I respectfully think the court is overstepping a bit. Age rules exist for a reason. The final hearing must consider the long-term impact on the recruitment process's integrity.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.