Srinagar, Mar 15: People’s Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone has expressed serious concerns over the reservation system in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it is disproportionately disadvantaging the Kashmiri-speaking population.
Addressing a press conference, Lone said while his party is not against reservations, the current system is harming merit and creating significant regional imbalances.
Lone, an MLA from Handwara, highlighted major differences in the issuance of category certificates between Jammu and Kashmir. As per official data, Jammu issued 459,493 Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates, making up 85.3 per cent of the total, while Kashmir issued only 79,813, which is 14.7 per cent. The gap was even wider in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, where Jammu accounted for 92.3 per cent of the certificates, amounting to 27,420, while Kashmir issued only 7.7 per cent, amounting to 2,273.
The Actual Line of Control (ALC) category also showed stark differences, with Jammu issuing 94.3 per cent, which is 268 certificates, and Kashmir only 5.7 per cent, amounting to 16 certificates.
In the International Border (IB) category, Jammu received 100 per cent of the certificates, with 551 issued, while Kashmir received none, Lone said.
The PC Chief further pointed out that the Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates were issued entirely in Jammu, with 67,112 certificates, making it 100 per cent, while Kashmir received none. Even in the Reserved Backward Area (RBA) category, Jammu led with 52.8 per cent, issuing 1,379 certificates, while Kashmir had 48.2 per cent, issuing 1,229 certificates.
“The biggest culprits in this system are Kashmiri officers themselves. I don’t know whether they are deliberately not issuing these certificates or if it is a flawed policy,” Lone said.
He explained, “Kashmiris are already disadvantaged even before reservations are applied. If 100 aspirants appear in an exam, 40 seats are for open merit. But even in those, 50.78 per cent of candidates are from Jammu, while only 9.22 per cent are from Kashmir. This means Kashmiris are already pushed out before reservations even begin.”
Lone termed these disparities a shocker, asserting that the entire reservation system is rigged against Kashmiri-speaking people and the ST and EWS communities in Kashmir. “Even the ST population in Kashmir is at a disadvantage, forming only 15 per cent of total ST applicants,” he said.
Referring to the committee set up by the government on December 10, 2024, to examine grievances, the PC Chief criticised the delay in submitting its report. He said the National Conference (NC) had earlier tweeted that the Reservation Committee would submit its report within six months. However, the government recently informed the Assembly that there is no set timeline for the report, he added.
Lone urged the authorities to take immediate corrective measures to ensure a fair and balanced reservation system, preventing any region or community from being unfairly sidelined.
