JK News Today: Students Decry Government Inaction on Reservation Policy Review

JK News Today: The Student Open Merit Association has accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of failing to honour its six-month-old promise to review the reservation system in government jobs and educational institutions. The deadline, which ends on 10 June, had been set by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in response to student-led protests in December 2024.

Sahil Parray, a leading member of the association from Anantnag, expressed frustration over the silence from the administration. He said the students had received no official update or report despite multiple follow-ups. They had expected the review to be completed within four to five months, but nearly half a year later, no progress had been communicated.

The students staged a protest on December 23, 2024 outside the Chief Minister’s Gupkar residence, demanding changes to the reservation policy. They argued that it restricted opportunities for deserving candidates from the open merit category. Their protest had received backing from several political figures, including MP Agha Ruhullah, MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, and Iltija Mufti.

Parray compared their campaign to Ladakh’s recent achievement in securing 85 per cent reservation in local jobs. He criticised Jammu and Kashmir lawmakers for neglecting the concerns of the youth, except during elections. He also voiced concern about the shrinking opportunities in fields such as medical education, claiming that over 75 per cent of postgraduate seats were reserved, leaving open merit candidates with limited scope.

As the promised deadline approaches with no sign of completion, the association has pledged to step up its campaign. Parray said the issue was about safeguarding the future of the youth, and they would not remain silent.

Although his optimism was waning, Parray said they still held on to hope. He added that the general category candidates, also known as open merit, were facing intense competition without any real support. Despite their hard work, he said, they were left with no level playing field and few opportunities. He stressed that the students were prepared to continue their struggle until the end.

Earlier, on 15 March, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had responded to the growing discontent through a post on X. He stated that the Cabinet sub-committee tasked with reviewing the reservation issue had been given a six-month timeline. This deadline, he clarified, had been set following a meeting with job aspirants and would soon be reflected in the official order. He assured that the committee was working to complete its task within the stipulated period.

The review committee had been announced by Cabinet Minister Javed Rana on 22 November last year. The move was intended to address concerns over perceived imbalances in the reservation system and to promote inclusivity by engaging all stakeholders.

 

 

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