J&K reservation policy rationalised: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday announced that his government has successfully “rationalised” the Union Territory’s reservation policy in the “best possible manner” to ensure justice for every community, fulfilling one of the National Conference’s biggest election promises.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event immediately after chairing an over-hour-long cabinet meeting at his official residence in Jammu, the Chief Minister said, “We have rationalised the existing Reservation Policy in the best possible manner so that every section gets justice. This was a major poll promise, and we have delivered on it.”

However, when pressed for specifics — including percentages, categories, etc, Abdullah refused to divulge any details. “The file has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval. Until he gives his consent, it would be inappropriate for me to say anything further.” The reservation issue has remained one of the most politically charged topics in Jammu and Kashmir after the formation of the popular Government headed by Omar Abdullah.

Last year, when the Centre brought in more groups under STs in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005, enhancing the ST-reserved seats/jobs from 10 per cent of the total to 20 per cent. Alongside, reservations for Other Backwards Classes (OBC) were also increased, with 15 new groups added to the OBC list.

Following this, the total reservations increased from 43 per cent to 70 per cent of the total in Government jobs/seats, leaving only 30 per cent in the general category, though a majority of the Jammu and Kashmir population falls in this category. The chief minister said the reservation policy was one of the 22 items on the agenda for the cabinet meeting.

“We discussed many things like construction of the new Kashmir House in Delhi’s Dwarka, proposal of chief engineers in the roads and buildings department, and how to revive co-operative societies in a new way, besides the reservations,” Abdullah said. Last year, the Government had constituted a cabinet sub-committee to look into grievances raised by various sections of aspirants against the existing reservation policy in the UT.

 The sub-committee forwarded its report in October, and accordingly, the report and its review by the law department were completed. Abdullah justified the time taken, saying it was because “the issue is such that it is very easy to do politics with it”. “The cabinet has tried to adopt a transparent and fair process. Now, the matter will go to the LG. I will not say anything more until the file reaches him. Whatever you want to believe, you can believe it. We could not have done a more detailed exercise than this.

Referring to the posturing by the National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on the reservation issue, the chief minister said, “This is not about an individual. This is about the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and we have fulfilled another election promise by completing this process.” Abdullah added that people who were “taunting” the Government, claiming it did not do anything about the reservation, are threatening protests if injustice is done to any section.