JAMMU, March 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC), constituted to review grievances related to the existing reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, will submit its findings within six months. The committee, formed last year, has been assigned the task of examining concerns raised by job aspirants and other affected groups regarding reservation rules in recruitment and other domains.
Taking to social media platform X, Omar clarified that the six-month deadline was set following his meeting with a delegation of concerned aspirants. “The CSC has been given a six-month timeline to complete its report. This timeline was set by me after I met with a concerned group of job aspirants,” he posted. He also admitted that the initial government order establishing the CSC did not specify any timeframe, calling it an “oversight” that would soon be rectified. However, he assured that the committee was working diligently to complete its task within the stipulated period.
Earlier in the day, the Union Territory administration had informed the Legislative Assembly that no official deadline had been set for the committee’s report submission. Social Welfare Minister Sakeena Itoo provided this clarification in response to a starred question by People’s Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone, who sought confirmation on whether the CSC had been granted a six-month deadline.
The three-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Social Welfare Minister Sakeena Itoo and comprising Ministers Satish Sharma and Javed Rana, was constituted in December last year. Responding in the House, Itoo reaffirmed that while the CSC had been tasked with addressing grievances related to reservation policies, no formal timeframe had been established.
During her statement, Itoo also provided key data on the issuance of reservation certificates since April 1, 2023. She informed the House that a total of 5,39,306 (5.39 lakh) Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates had been issued, with 4,59,493 (4.59 lakh) beneficiaries in the Jammu division and 79,813 in the Kashmir division. Additionally, 67,112 Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates were distributed in the Jammu region.
The Minister also outlined the extent of reservation benefits across different categories:
- Reserved Backward Area (RBA): 1,379 villages in Jammu and 1,229 villages in Kashmir have availed benefits.
- International Border (IB) category: 551 villages in Jammu division have been covered.
- Actual Line of Control (ALoC) category: 268 villages in Jammu and 16 villages in Kashmir have benefited.
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 27,420 certificates issued in Jammu division and 2,273 certificates in Kashmir valley.
The CSC’s review is expected to bring clarity on contentious aspects of the reservation policy, potentially leading to amendments that align with the concerns of various communities. As discussions on reservation continue to dominate political discourse in Jammu and Kashmir, the timely submission of the committee’s report is anticipated to play a crucial role in shaping future policies.