Srinagar, April 19 -- The word "merit" used to mean something in the academic world. It stood for rigour, honesty, impact. But in Jammu and Kashmir today, it has become a slogan stretched too thin, especially with the latest move to selectively extend the retirement age of university professors from 62 to 65. The government says the extension will be based on merit. But what does that even mean anymore?

In universities across the region, the reaction has been a mix of cautious hope and quiet disbelief. Everyone knows how things usually work. When rules are vague, it is the well-connected who benefit. In this case, the absence of any clear definition or public criteria for "merit" makes the entire proposal suspect. Without transparency, t...