Jammu, 02.03.22: All India Confederation of SC ST OBC Organisations met Arun Kumar Mehta, IAS, Chief Secretary of J&K in order to felicitate him and present a memorandum of demands concerning the issues of SC/ST/OBCs in J&K.Since this was the first meeting of the Confederation with Mr Mehta, he was felicitated by presenting a shawl and RK Kalsotra, State President Confederation, extended his gratitude to him for the good work he has done under the tenure. Kalsotra was accompanied by Er BL Bhardwaj, General Secretary, Er HR Phonsa, and Sarwar Chauhan, Retd SSP, Advisors, Roshan Choudhary and Mohd Hamid Choudhary, State Coordinator Confederation, Balwinder Kumar, State Coordinator NSYF.The deputation presented a memorandum of demands to the Chief Secretary which was duly accepted by him. These include Restoration of Reservation in Promotions retrospectively from 2015, Clearance of backlog of 1.04 lakh for SC/ST/OBCs, full implementation of Mandal Commission Report suggesting 27% Reservation for OBCs, timely disbursement of Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC students, tackling the rising cases of Caste-based atrocities in J&K via full implementation of SC/ST Atrocities Act, Stoppage of dilution of ST status, Age relaxation to SC/ST candidates of 5 years and OBC candidates of 3 years as per the central norms, Reservation in Excise Policy, which was earlier approved by the administration, Employment drives for recruitment of educated unemployed youth, among others.Kalsotra mentioned that the foremost demand highlighted was that of Restoration of Reservation in Promotions, retrospectively from 2015. Reservation in Promotions is guaranteed by the Constitution of India and was implemented in J&K only after 1970s for SCs and after 1990s for STs and other minorities. This was finalised in a shape of legislation – the Reservation Act, 2004. After the abrogation of Article 370, the national laws were to be implemented in J&K as well. But till now Reservation in promotions is not restored since 2015. Moreover, the State law of J&K, Reservation Act 2004, also guarantees Reservation in promotions, but even that is not being allowed.
Mr Mehta assured that whatever is being implemented at the Central level will be implemented in J&K as well. Moreover, Reservation in Promotions will be restored soon enough. Kalsotra and other members extended their thanks to Mr Mehta.