The Cabinet sub-committee tasked by the Jammu and Kashmir (J and K) Government with reviewing the Union Territory’s reservation policy has finalised its draft report, according to a statement by Minister for Education Sakina Ittoo.
The report, completed within the stipulated six-month timeframe, is set to be presented at the next cabinet meeting, marking a significant step in addressing the contentious issue of reservations in J and K.
The sub-committee was constituted in December 2024 following widespread protests led by students outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.
The demonstrations, spearheaded by National Conference (NC) leader and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, were in response to the existing reservation policy, which allocates only 30 per cent of seats for open merit candidates in educational institutions and government jobs.
The remaining 70 per cent are reserved for various communities, a distribution that has sparked significant debate and dissatisfaction among open merit aspirants.
The protests were further fueled by the Central Government’s decision to grant reservation status to the Pahari-speaking community in J and K, which further reduced the open merit quota. This move intensified concerns among students and other stakeholders, who argued that the limited open merit allocation restricts opportunities for those not covered under reserved categories.
Formed to examine these grievances and recommend revisions to the reservation policy, the sub-committee was given a six-month deadline to submit its findings. Minister Sakina Ittoo, in a post on her official X handle, confirmed the timely completion of the draft report, stating, “The Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine the issue of reservations has drafted its report within the stipulated timeframe of six months. The report will be placed before the Cabinet when it meets.”
While the specifics of the report remain undisclosed, its submission is expected to initiate critical discussions within the cabinet on balancing the demands of open merit candidates with the affirmative action policies benefiting reserved communities.