RK Kalsotra demands caste census, quota hike, and restoration of promotions
Jammu, 2nd March: The All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organizations, in a protest conference held today at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Chowk, Jammu, strongly demanded that the government introduce the Real Reservation Amendment Bill 2025 to ensure justice for marginalized communities.
Addressing the media, RK Kalsotra, State President of the Confederation, condemned the recent viral draft of the Reservation Bill, calling it a direct attack on constitutional reservations. He warned that any dilution of existing reservation policies would lead to widespread protests. “The current proposal circulating in political circles is aimed at weakening the fundamental rights of SC/ST/OBC communities. We will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the hard-won constitutional provisions of social justice,” he asserted.
Key demands of the Confederation included that there should be an increase in the reservation Quota, SC reservation in recruitment and promotions should be raised from 8% to 10%. Further ST-1 reservations should be increased from 10% to 12%, OBC reservations should be ensured at 27% as per the Mandal Commission. As per the bill, SC+ST-1+OBC is 4+7+5=16, and their population is 8+10+52=70 whereas the general are 30%, claiming 84% reservation, and this is the major reason for condemning the alleged bill.
Immediate Restoration of Reservation in Promotions. The government must reinstate reservations in promotions for SC/ST/OBC employees without delay. Age Relaxation for SC/ST in Employment and Education. The five-year age relaxation for SC/ST candidates should be restored, instead of the current three-year concession. Clearing of Backlog Vacancies. The government should fill all pending backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBC candidates in employment. Land Rights for Marginalized Communities, Government state lands should be returned to SC/ST/OBC communities and legal ownership should be granted. Conduct a caste census for Fair representation. A state/nationwide caste census must be conducted to ensure that reservation and resources are allocated in proportion to population share. Filling of SC Member Post in J&K PSC, The post of Scheduled Caste member in the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (PSC) has remained vacant since December 2022. The government must immediately appoint a representative to ensure fair representation. Independent Control of Bodhgaya Monastery, The Bodhgaya Monastery site in Bihar should be placed under the independent control of the Buddhist community.
There is also an exponential increase in caste-based atrocities. Recent cases from Billawar regarding the suicide of a tribal boy and the rape cases of a minor school-going Dalit girl in Kathua are a few cases that are direct instances of caste-based atrocities.
RK Kalsotra further warned that failure to address these demands would result in a state-wide agitation. He emphasized that SC/ST/OBC communities would not remain silent if their rights were tampered with. “Our fight is not just for reservations but for dignity, equality, and justice. If the government fails to act, we will take to the streets to protect our constitutional rights,” he declared.
The Confederation has urged the government to take immediate action on these issues and ensure that the Real Reservation Amendment Bill 2025 is introduced in the upcoming assembly session.
The Confederation also urged opposition parties to support the Real Reservation Amendment Bill 2025 in the upcoming assembly session. “Social justice is not a political issue; it is a constitutional responsibility. We call upon all opposition parties to stand with SC/ST/OBC communities and ensure that this bill is passed without any dilution,” RK Kalsotra stated.
It was also unanimously decided by all the members that in case a pro SC/ST/OBC bill is not passed by the govt, there will be a gherao of the assembly in coming days by the confederation as a marker of resistance.
Bansi Lal Choudhary, convenor of OBC Mahasabha, said, Keeping in view the fake & factious reports submitted by all deputy commissioners of all the 20 districts, Our demand is a fresh door-to-door survey for counting the JK-UT OBC population for the exact OBC population for the reservation of OBC in panchayats and in municipal corporations/committees.
Those prominent who spoke were B L Bhardwaj, Ramesh Sarmal, Ramesh Uttama, Dr. Ramesh Kaith, and Bansi Lal Ch. K.K. Fottra, Arif Ch, Rashpal Bhardwaj, Hurdutt, Shamsher Chand Bhagat, Roshan Ch, Shashi Syal, and Amar Nath Bhagat. Mohinder Karlopia, Kuldeep Raj, and Kasturi Lal Basotra. Dr Shiv Pal Sarmal, Dault Ram, and many others