Srinagar, June 18: The Jammu and Kashmir government, at a high-level cabinet meeting held at the Civil Secretariat Srinagar on Wednesday evening, deliberated on a wide range of administrative issues, but top priority was given to the much-debated reservation policy, which sources privy to the meeting said has now been forwarded to the Law Department for legal review before being reintroduced for cabinet clearance.
Sources told Rising Kashmir that the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) report on reservation, which proposes changes to the existing quota structure, was among the first items tabled during the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The report, prepared over several months, has stirred public debate amid rising concerns from merit-based aspirants and civil society members.
“The CSC report on reservation was discussed in detail and subsequently sent to the Law Department to examine its constitutional and legal validity,” sources privy to the discussions said.
The reservation policy has faced criticism for allegedly diluting merit by exceeding the 70% cap on reserved categories. Prominent voices, including NC MP Aga Ruhullah and various student bodies, have expressed serious reservations, calling it a “murder of merit.”
Sources said the Law Department’s review will determine whether the policy stands the test of constitutional scrutiny, especially under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.
Sources said the cabinet also held serious deliberations on the declining tourism graph, particularly in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The drop in tourist footfall has triggered concern in both the private and public sectors, with hospitality and transport sectors facing losses.
“The government is preparing a revival roadmap that includes, rebranding efforts, revival of places, temporarily closed after the April attack was also discussed, alongside promotion of eco and adventure tourism in untapped areas.
Another point of discussion, sources said, was recruitments in the Forest Department, especially in light of environmental concerns affecting tourism, forests, and wetland areas.
“Several key posts are lying vacant. The cabinet reviewed proposals regarding new appointments and possible reorganization to improve efficiency in afforestation and conservation,” they added.
With the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra just days away, the cabinet reviewed preparedness along both the Baltal (Ganderbal) and Pahalgam (Anantnag) routes, including medical services, base camps, and food and water supply.
The reservation report will likely return to the cabinet after legal vetting, but sources said there is no fixed timeframe for when that will happen.
