Before the Assembly elections in early this year, the administration led by the lieutenant-governor introduced the reservation policy for admissions and jobs.
A group of political leaders and students gathered in front of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's residence to demand a review of reservation policy that was implemented by the lieutenant-governor-led administration this year.
Ruhullah Mahdi, a member of Abdullah's party (National Conference), was present with the students. In a Sunday post on X, he called for a demonstration at Gupkar Road in front of the CM's residence office to demand rationality.
Abdullah’s son joined Mehdi, the students and Abdullah.
What is the policy of the company?
Before the early-year assembly elections, the policy of the administration led by LG Manoj Sinha reduced the percentages for general categories and increased them for reserved categories.
Then, the administration approved 10% reservations for Paharis as well as three other tribes. This brought the total reservation percentage under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category to 20%.
The SEBC Commission recommended that 15 new castes be added to the OBC list. It also gave 8% reservations to other backward classes (OBCs).
During the budget session in February, the Parliament approved reservations for ethnic groups such as Pahari, Paddari, Kolis and Gadda-Brahmins.
The Administrative Council, under LG Sinha, met in March and approved the proposal by the social welfare department for amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules 2005, in light of the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Amendment Act 2023, dated 15/12/2023, Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir), Scheduled Castes Orders (Amendment Act) 2024, Constitution(Jammu & Kashmir), Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment Act) 2024 and the recommendations of Jam
Protests and anger are triggered by policy
Politicians and students were not happy with this reservation policy. The valley was awash with calls for reversing the policy and reviewing it.
He clarified that while NC MP Ruhulla Mehdi promised to the students in November to join their outcry, the new government did not take any action on the reservation policy because there was confusion over the devolution between the newly-elected Omar Abullah led government and LG Sinha.
"I have been told that there's some confusion over the division of rules of business between the elected office and the undemocratically-imposed office on a number of issues, and this is one of them. "I am assured that the Government will make a decision soon to rationalise this policy," he said.
J&K government forms panel to review policies
The Jammu and Kashmir Government set up a panel of three members to review policy on reservation in employment and admissions.
The panel includes health minister Sakina Itoo, forest ministry Javed Ahmed Rana, and Science and Technology minister Satish Sharma.
The committee has not yet set a deadline for submitting its report.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court asked the government to respond within three weeks after hearing a new petition that challenged the reservation policy.
The court also merged the previous petition and the most recent.
Will obey court decision: CM
Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of the state of Saudi Arabia, said on Sunday that his government will follow the court's directions in this matter despite the fact that it has set up a committee to examine the policy on reservations.
Abdullah said that while he understood the emotion surrounding the reservation issue, his JKNC party is committed to reviewing every aspect of its manifesto.
As a continuation of the commitment, a cabinet subcommittee has been formed to work towards fulfilling this promise. This sub-committee has only been recently notified & it is now in the process to start its work, engaging with all stakeholders," Abdullah stated in a post posted on X.
He said that the High Court has also challenged the policy, and that his government would be bound by any judgement "when the last legal options have been exhausted".
Chief Minister said that it was brought to his attention by the chief secretary, "that a protest in Srinagar is planned to highlight the injustice of the reservation policy." I am not going to deny anyone the right to peaceful protest. But please do protest, knowing that this issue hasn't been ignored or swept beneath the rug.
He assured the people that they would all be heard, and a fair judgment would be made after following proper procedure.
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