The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday moved a step closer toward granting age relaxation to job aspirants, with confirmation that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved the proposal and forwarded it to Raj Bhawan for final consent.

The development was disclosed by National Conference leader and lawmaker Tanvir Sadiq, who said the Chief Minister’s Secretariat had confirmed that the file has been cleared at the government level and formally transmitted for gubernatorial approval.With the Chief Minister’s approval, the final decision now rests with Raj Bhawan, after which a formal government order is expected to be issued.

The move is being seen as a significant breakthrough for thousands of job aspirants and those who appear in competitive examinations in Jammu and Kashmir who have been demanding age relaxation due to prolonged recruitment delays over the past several years.

Recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir has faced repeated disruptions since 2019 due to administrative restructuring, delays in setting up recruitment agencies, changes in service rules, and prolonged litigation. Many aspirants crossed the upper age limit during these years without getting a fair opportunity to apply for posts.

Demands for age relaxation intensified over the past two years with youth groups and political parties arguing that candidates should not be penalised for delays beyond their control. After assuming office, the Omar Abdullah-led government had indicated that addressing youth unemployment and recruitment injustice would be a priority. The approval of age relaxation is the first major administrative step on that front.

If cleared by Raj Bhawan, the relaxation order is expected to apply across multiple recruitment categories, bringing immediate relief to thousands of candidates who had become ineligible due to crossing age limits.