The Jammu and Kashmir government has established a three-member committee to review the recently implemented reservation policy in the Union Territory (UT). This move follows increasing complaints from students and job seekers regarding the reduction of open merit seats.
The General Administration Department ordered the formation of the committee, which comprises cabinet ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana and Satish Sharma. The Social Welfare Department will support the committee, tasked with submitting a report to the Council of Ministers.
Protests erupted after the UT administration introduced a 10 per cent reservation for the Pahari community earlier this year, raising the total reserved seats to 60 per cent and leaving only 40 per cent for candidates in the general category. This new policy has particularly concerned medical students, who fear it may limit their opportunities.
On Monday, medical students from Srinagar’s Government Medical College staged protests, followed by similar demonstrations at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences on Tuesday. They argue that the policy disproportionately affects youth from the general category.
The issue has also entered the judicial system, with the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court currently reviewing petitions that challenge the policy. A division bench has indicated that any appointments made under the new rules will depend on the court’s final ruling.
Last month, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced the cabinet's plan to create this committee to engage with stakeholders and address their concerns. This initiative aims to alleviate tensions and reach a fair resolution.
The changes to the reservation policy have become a contentious issue in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly for job seekers competing in the open merit category. With an unemployment rate of 32 per cent and limited private-sector job opportunities, many young individuals are left relying on government positions. Even those with high qualifications, such as PhD holders, frequently apply for lower-level government jobs due to the scarcity of alternatives.