The issue of reservations in government services and admonition to professional courses has become a political issue and it has hogged the limelight in Jammu and Kashmir politics .In fact one can surmise that reservations have become a political, vote bank and appeasement issue and it has marred efficiency and had given rise to inefficiency in administration and governance .At the time of the framing and implementing of our constitution ,it was thought proper to give reservations to SC’s ,ST’s and OB’c for a period of ten years .But the irony of our politics and governance is that the reservations are continuing even after 75 years of freedom and self rule .
Reservation has become a reality of our politics and political system that no party musters the courage to touch and scrap it again for vote bank politics These days ,reservation has become a subject of debate and talk of the town in JK UT .The chief minister Omar Abdullah has sought six months time to sort out the intricate issue of reservations .Jammu and Kashmir’s new reservation policy has sparked protests and legal challenges .Critics say it reduces opportunities for some groups while benefiting others .The changes ,introduced after the revocation of Article 370 ,impact quotas for government jobs and educational institutions .Under the revised policy, open merit –general category reservations have been cut from 57% to 33% .The changes implemented have reduced the Reservations for Residents of Backward Areas –RBA from 20 percent to 10 percent .
In contrast ,the share for Scheduled Tribes (ST} has doubled from 10 percent to 20 percent and reservations for Socially Backward Castes (SBC} have increased from 2 percent to 8 percent reservations for people living near the Line of Actual Control and Physically Challenged –PHC have been slightly raised from 3 percent to 4 percent .The new reservation policy also introduces new reservation categories ,which include children of defense personnel -3% ,children of police personnel -1% and achievers in sports -2% .A significant addition is a 10% reservation for the newly recognized Pahari ethnic groups ,along with other communities like Paddari tribe ,Koils ,and Gadda Brahmins by the parliament at the behest of the BJP .Gujjar and Bakerwal communities ,who were granted ST status in 1991 vehemently opposed the ST status of Paharis and others on the contention that they do not meet the criteria to be granted an ST quota .They argued that the move has reduced their chances of seeking admissions and government jobs .The policy is also under legal challenge .The court has asked the J&K government to respond within three weeks .Regional parties say the reservation should be based on fairness and at expanse of those who do not enjoy reservation .
The J&K government has set up a three-member panel to review the policy but has not given a timeline for its conclusions .With ongoing protests and legal challenges ,the future of the policy remains uncertain .The reservation policy for jobs and admissions was introduced by the lieutenant governor –led administration before the assembly elections this year .Several political leaders and hundreds of students have gathered outside the residence of Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah to seek a review of the reservation policy ,which was introduced by the LG –led administration earlier this year .Present with the protesting students was Abdullah’s own party {National Conference] member and MP Ruhullah Mehdi .In a post on X on Sunday ,he had called for a protest at Gupkar Road outside the CM’s residential office to demand rationality in reservation policy .Opposition leaders from PDP ,Waheed Para and Iltija Mufti along with Awami Itihad Party leader Sheikh Khurshid { brother of Er Rashid] have also joined the protest .On the top of all this,Abdullah’s son also stepped outside to join Mehdi and the students .
Meanwhile ,Mufti spoke to students and later told reporters ,’’We are not here to do politics .’’She said the politics in the valley revolves round Article 370 and restoration of statehood ,with no one talking about the ‘’youth .’’’’They have very basic demands—like the reservation must be equitable and not discriminatory --- We hope the government that came to power with a huge mandate and with a promise that they will rationalize the reservation –we hope the NC government fulfils their promises in a time bound manner .’’Mufti told ANI. Hours after the protest began ,chief minister Omar Abdullah called in the students and spoke with them in his office .In March ,the Administrative council met under the LG Sinha and approved the proposal of the social welfare department to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment ]Act ,2023 ,dated 15-12- 2023 ,Constitution [Jammu and Kashmir] Scheduled Castes Order [Amendment] Act 2024 ,Constitution [Jammu and Kashmir] Scheduled Tribes Order {Amendment] Act 2024 and recommendations of Jammu and Kashmir Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission .
The reservation policy introduced by the LG Manoj Sinha –led administration ,before the assembly elections early this year ,reduced the reservation percentage for general category and increased those for the reserved categories in jobs and admissions .The then administration had approved 10% reservations for Paharis and three other tribes ,taking the total reservation under the Scheduled Tribe –ST category up to 20%.It also granted 8% reservation to other backward classes –OBC’s ,besides adding 15 new castes to the list of OBC’s as recommended by the Socially and Economically Backward Classes –SEBC Commission .The parliament ,in February ,had approved reservations for Pahari ethnic tribe and other tribes during the budget session .
This reservation policy did not go down well among politicians and students alike .Calls for review and reversal of the policy were being sounded across the valley .While NC MP Ruhulla had promised the students to join their outcry in November ,he clarified that the reason for the new government not taking any action over the reservation policy was because of a confusion between the devolution of power between the newly elected Omar Abdullah –led government and the LG Sinha .’’I told that there is some confusion about the distribution of the rules of business on many issues between the elected government and other undemocratically imposed office and this subject is one among them .I am assured that the government will take a decision to rationalize the policy soon,’’ he added. On December 10th J&K government formed a three –member panel to review the reservation policy in jobs and admissions .The panel comprises health minister Sakina Itoo ,forest minister Javad Ahmad Rana, and Science and Technology minister Satish Sharma .So far no deadline has been set for the committee to submit its report. Two days later, the J&K high court ,while hearing a fresh petition challenging the reservation policy, sought response on the same from the government within a time period of three weeks .The court also clubbed the previous petition with the recent one. Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that while government has formed a committee to review the reservation policy ,it will abide by the court directions on the matter .Explaining that he understands the emotions surfacing over the reservation issue ,Abdullah affirmed that his party JKNC is fully committed to reviewing all the aspects of its manifesto .
’’It is a continuation of this commitment that a cabinet sub-committee was constituted to move towards fulfilling this promise .That sub-committee was only recently notified and is in the process of starting its work by engaging with all stakeholders ,’’Abdullah said in a post on X. He noted that the policy has been challenged in the High Court ,saying that his government will surely be’’ bound by any judgment when the final legal options have been exhausted .The CM however further said ,’’It has come to my attention that a protest is being planned in Srinagar to highlight the sense of injustice surrounding the reservation policy
Peaceful protest is a democratic right and I would be the last person to deny anyone that right but please protest knowing that the issue has not been ignored or swept under the carpet .He assured people that everyone would be heard and a fair decision would be taken after due procedure .Tensions are raising over the recent reservation policy changes in J&K ,as the High Court has issued notices to the local government following a petition challenging these guidelines .Filed by local resident Dawar Ali and backed by the J&K civil society ,the petition raises serious concerns about the fairness and logic behind the current reservation framework .Advocates argue the policy violates principles of rationality and requests the court to annul it entirely .Legal analysts and observers note how the changing reservation guidelines signal not just local effects—these alterations could serve as new precedents for other regions facing similar socio-economic challenges .Now that the High Court is seized of the matter of change in reservations, the best course is to wait the final outcome of the judiciary .Till then the issue should be kept in cold storage and not politicized.

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