In a case that has sparked widespread debate over bureaucratic delays, a Kerala man finally received a government job offer more than two decades after appearing for the recruitment examination. However, by the time the appointment letter reached him, he had already crossed the maximum age limit for joining government service.
According to reports, 61-year-old Abdul Majeed, a resident of Kalikavu in Kerala’s Malappuram district, recently received an official advice memo from the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) for the post of Part-Time Junior Arabic Teacher. Ironically, the appointment offer arrived 21 years after he had appeared for the recruitment examination and nearly 18 years after the rank list had expired.
A Dream Government Job That Never Came
Majeed had appeared for the PSC recruitment examination in 2005 and secured a place on the rank list. However, despite being included among eligible candidates, he never received an appointment during the list’s three-year validity period.
When the rank list expired in 2008, Majeed, like many other candidates who miss out on appointments despite qualifying, gradually moved on with life and abandoned hopes of securing a government job.
Years later, an unexpected development changed everything.
In April 2026, Majeed received an official advice memo dated April 24 from the Kerala PSC. The appointment was reportedly linked to a vacancy that had remained unfilled for years due to the lack of eligible candidates. After several recruitment attempts failed to fill the position, authorities eventually turned to the old rank list, resulting in Majeed being offered the job decades after the original recruitment process.
Appointment Offer Arrives Too Late
While receiving a government appointment letter would normally be a moment of celebration, the timing proved devastating for Majeed.
According to official records, he turned 60 on May 27, 2026, crossing the upper age limit for joining government service. Although candidates are generally given up to three months to complete joining formalities after receiving an advice memo, Majeed is now legally ineligible to assume the post due to age restrictions.
As a result, the appointment that he had waited years for may never translate into actual employment.
Majeed Blames Delay For Lost Opportunity
Majeed argues that the prolonged delay has effectively denied him a career opportunity that he had legitimately earned years ago.
He pointed out that the vacancy remained unfilled for nearly 18 years and believes that if the appointment process had been completed within a reasonable period, he would have been able to join service without any issue.
“It took 18 years for the PSC to issue the advice memo. The appointment was delayed to such an extent that I have lost any realistic chance of serving in the post,” Majeed told PTI.
His case has raised broader questions about administrative efficiency and accountability in recruitment processes.
Birth Date Dispute Adds New Twist
The matter has become more complicated because of a discrepancy regarding Majeed’s date of birth.
While his Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) records his birth date as May 27, 1966, Majeed maintains that he was actually born on May 27, 1967.
He believes that correcting the alleged error could make him eligible for the position and allow him to serve for at least one year before retirement.
Seeking relief, Majeed has submitted petitions to Kerala’s Education Minister and advocate N. Shamsudheen, requesting intervention in the matter. He is currently awaiting a response from the authorities.
Social Media Reacts To Extraordinary Delay
The unusual case has attracted significant attention online, with many social media users expressing disbelief over how an appointment connected to a 2005 recruitment process could reach a candidate only in 2026.
Several users criticised what they described as excessive bureaucratic delays, while others questioned how a vacancy remained unresolved for nearly two decades.
The incident has reignited discussions about the efficiency of public recruitment systems and the challenges faced by candidates who spend years waiting for appointments that may never arrive.
For Abdul Majeed, the long-awaited government job remained a lifelong dream. But when the opportunity finally arrived, it appeared to have come far too late.