J&K government sets up panel to review reservation policy

Over last five years, Centre has added to the list of reserved communities, expanded quotas to 70%; need to balance needs of open category and reserved community youth, says CM Omar Abdullah

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday (November 22, 2024) formed a sub-committee to review reservations in the Union Territory (UT), in the wake of a growing demand from open category aspirants to look into the current policy of a 70% quota for the reserved categories.

“The Cabinet has decided to establish a three-member sub-committee of Ministers to take a holistic view of the reservation issue. They will review past actions, including recent Supreme Court directions, and evaluate whether the government’s steps are aligned with those directives,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, after chairing a meeting of the State Cabinet.

Reservations have emerged as a major issue in J&K after the Central government decided to add more communities to the reserved category and expanded quotas in the UT over the past five years.

Balancing rights

“The need for this sub-committee arises after the concerns from the two sides: the open category youth who feel deprived of their rights and those already benefiting from reservations who fear losing their entitlements. The committee’s goal is to ensure justice for all without depriving anyone of their rightful share. It will provide recommendations for future decisions so that everyone’s rights are protected,” the CM said.

During the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Abdullah said, he also directed his colleagues “to take necessary departmental actions within their Ministries to fulfill the promises outlined in the manifesto, with a strong emphasis on addressing unemployment.” 

When asked about the release of political prisoners, the Chief Minister said: ”We need a State. At present, police, law and order, security is with the Central government and is looked after by the Lieutenant Governor.”

However, he said that he had raised the issue of verification with the police department. “It has become a weapon of harassment. To a large extent, it has been stopped and there will be more relief in the future,” he added.

Assembly resolution

Mr. Abdullah also commented for the first time on the divergent stands of the National Conference (NC) and its ally, the Congress, on the resolution passed by the Assembly on J&K’s special status. “The resolution has been passed. No one opposed it, which has opened a door. The Congress is not part of the government and has supported the NC from outside,” he noted.

If there was nothing in the resolution, why would Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah rake it up so frequently, he asked.

In a separate announcement on X, Mr. Abdullah said that he planned to visit Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage. “Alhumdullilah political clearance has come. I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia on Monday to perform Umrah and to offer prayers at Al Masjid an Nabawi (SAW) (The Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque) in Medina,” he said in a post.

Published - November 22, 2024 03:51 pm IST