The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir administration in a petition challenging the reservation rules in the Union Territory introduced after the abrogation of Article 370.
The petition was filed by one Dawar Ali with the support of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Society. New Delhi-based JUS Advocates & Solicitors Front led by Advocate Junaid Mohammad Junaid is appearing for the petitioners.
The petition, while describing the reservation policy as "unreasonable and illogical", seeks to cancel it and proposes forming an independent committee to review and revise the reservation framework.
A bench consisting of Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani has instructed the respondents to submit their replies within three weeks.
The petitioners have been asked to complete all necessary formalities for notifying the parties involved within one week. The court has merged two similar petitions and scheduled the next hearing for December 27.
Advocate Junaid said that a fair and logical reservation policy is vital for addressing public concerns.
“This issue is not against any specific community or class. It is about upholding the Constitution and the rule of law,” he said.
Imtiyaz Chesti, chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Society, stressed the society’s commitment to ensuring justice and fairness in the broader public interest.
The changes introduced in the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir have taken the reservation to 60 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir.
After Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its statehood and limited autonomy under Article 370, the UT administration under the Lieutenant Governor made changes in the reservation policy. The granting of 10 per cent reservation to Pahari, Gadda Brahmin, Kholi and Seni raised the percentage of reservation for Schedule Tribes from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. The move impacted those competing in open merit.
