Srinagar- Amid a row over the delay in clearing a file related to age relaxation for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) scheduled for December 7, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the file was returned the same day it was received on December 2 with a query, but there was no response from the government.

In an official statement, the LG’s office said Lok Bhavan received the relevant file from the J&K Public Service Commission on December 2, 2025, just five days before the scheduled examination. The file, officials clarified, dealt ‘exclusively’ with the issue of age relaxation for candidates.

According to the LG’s office, the file was examined and returned the same day with a specific query: whether it was ‘logistically feasible’ to conduct the exam on December 7, given that the proposed age-related modifications would require changes to eligibility criteria at a very late stage.

However, ‘no response was received for the next four days’, a delay the LG’s office said had contributed to confusion. “I fully sympathize with young aspirants,” the statement noted, emphasising that the administration had acted promptly and sought only essential clarifications.

Reiterating the official exam schedule issued by JKPSC, the LG’s office said the advertisement notice for the examination was published on August 22, 2025, and the exam date of December 7, 2025, was formally notified on November 6, 2025.

The clarification comes amid public concern and widespread speculation on social media over administrative delays and possible exam disruptions. The LG’s office said the statement was issued to “set the record straight” and ensure transparency for thousands of candidates preparing for the recruitment process.

Omar Seeks Exam Postponement

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged the JKPSC to consider postponing the CCE in view of “uncertainty” resulting from Lok Bhavan’s “delay” in approving age relaxation for the aspirants.

“The chief minister expressed deep concern over the travel chaos caused by the ongoing airline issues, compounded by the uncertainty resulting from Lok Bhavan’s delay in approving age relaxation, a provision granted multiple times in the past,” the chief minister’s office said in a post on X.

Omar urged the JKPSC to consider the “unprecedented stress” on aspirants and postpone the exam to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all.

The chief minister’s advisor, Nasir Aslam Wani, said the examination should be deferred till the issue of age relaxation, which is pending consideration of Lieutenant Governor, is addressed.

“The elected government is in favour of relaxing the upper age limit for recruitment and we have sent the file to the Lok Bhawan in this regard. Till the process is completed, the JKPSC should defer the examination,” Wani, told PTI.

He said the Abdullah government earlier this week sent the file of age relaxation to Lieutenant Governor for approval.

“The file has been returned to General Administration Department with some queries. The GAD has forwarded it to the Public Service Commission for its opinion on the matter,” Wani said.