The data suggested the candidates who benefited under the Schedule Caste (SC) category were 67,112 (100%) from the Jammu region against zero from the Kashmir region. Similarly, 4,59,493 people (85.3%) benefited under the Schedule Tribe (ST) category from the Jammu region against 79,813 (14.7) from the Kashmir division.
| Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD
J&K official data on reserved categories shared with the Assembly on Saturday (March 15, 2025)showed that the current reservation policy is skewed and favoured the candidates from the Jammu region than the Kashmir region.
The official data was tabled before the Assembly on the population who benefited under different reserved categories in the Union Territory (UT) since April 2023. It was shared in response to a question raised by J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) president and MLA Sajad Lone.
The data suggested the candidates who benefited under the Schedule Caste (SC) category were 67,112 (100%) from the Jammu region against zero from the Kashmir region. Similarly, 4,59,493 people (85.3%) benefited under the Schedule Tribe (ST) category from the Jammu region against 79,813 (14.7) from the Kashmir division.
It also showed very few benefitting under the Economic Weaker Section (EWS) from the Kashmir region at 2,273 people (7.7%) against 27,420 people (92.3%) from the Jammu region.
Under the Actual Line of Control (LAC), the data revealed that 268 people (94.3%) benefited from Jammu against 16 persons (5.7%) from Kashmir. Under the International Border (IB) category, none benefited from Kashmir, while 551 candidates did in Jammu.
Kashmir and Jammu are two provinces or divisions of the UT, with each division comprising 10 districts. The two divisions, however, are completely two different demographics and topography. Kashmir forms around 55% of the total population of J&K against 45% from Jammu, according to the 2011 census.
Prior to 2019, when J&K was a State with special status, J&K had 8% reservation for SC, 10% for STs, 4% for OBCs, 4% for residents along Line of Actual Control/International Border, 10% for Residents of Backward Area (RBA) and 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs).
The Centre reworked the reservation policy in the past five years. It granted 20% reservation to STs, 8% to SCs, 10% to RBA, 8% to OBCs, 4% to Actual Line of Control (ALC)/International Borders, 10% to EWS and 10% to children of defence personnel, sports, CDP, PWD etc. It brings reserved categories in J&K to around 60% and Open Merit only 40%.
“It’s shocking data. Within the reservation categories, the scam is bigger than the scam of 60% reservation. If 100 students appear, 50.78% are from Jammu and 9.22% from Kashmir under the reserved categories. We are even out crowded there,” Mr. Lone said.
Loss of quotas to the Kashmiri-speaking population
Referring to regional imbalances, Mr. Lone said these disparities reveal a greater loss of quotas to the Kashmiri-speaking population than previously anticipated. “The whole reservation concept is rigged against the Kashmiri speaking population and against ST or EWS living in Kashmir,” Mr. Lone added.
Mr. Lone also criticised the government committee, framed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to look into the reservation issue, for “lacking a specific timeline to submit its report”.
Sahil Parray, an activist representing the Open Merit category, said these numbers “exposed the systematic injustice against Kashmiris”. “The so-called reservation policy is nothing but a tool to benefit Jammu at Kashmir’s expense,” Mr. Parray said.
Published – March 15, 2025 07:47 pm IST
