SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government told the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that the quantum of vertical reservation in the Union territory remains 50 per cent and that a separate 10 per cent Economically Weaker Sections quota is maintained, even as a Cabinet sub-committee has submitted recommendations to the Council of Ministers for rationalisation of reservation quotas.
In response to a starred question from MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, the Social Welfare Department set out the statutory reservation matrix in recruitment, stating category-wise shares and confirming that the creamy layer principle for Other Backwards Classes has been notified and is being implemented. The department said any further changes to the reservation policy will be made after review, line-department data and stakeholder consultation.
The Assembly reply listed category allocations in recruitment as follows: Scheduled Caste 8 per cent; Scheduled Tribe (ST-1) 10 per cent; Scheduled Tribe (ST-2) 10 per cent; Other Backward Classes 8 per cent; Reserved Backward Area 4 per cent; Economically Weaker Sections 10 per cent; and ex-servicemen 10 per cent. The reply also noted horizontal reservations for groups such as persons with disabilities and for subcategories including children of defence personnel, para-military forces and UT police personnel, and candidates with outstanding sporting proficiency in professional institutions.
The reply directly addressed concerns about the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations set by the Supreme Court in its 1992 judgment. The government said the quantum of reservation across the various categories in the UT is 50 per cent, excluding the 10 per cent EWS quota. It added that horizontal reservations apply in addition to these vertical quotas as per established rules.
On the question of periodic review and application of the creamy layer principle, the Social Welfare Department said the reservation policy is reviewed from time to time and that the creamy-layer mechanism for OBCs has been formally issued and is in force. The department said further modifications are undertaken as required and in consultation with stakeholders and relevant statutory bodies such as the Jammu and Kashmir State Backwards Classes Commission.
The Assembly was also told that a Cabinet Sub-Committee, constituted by the government, was set up to examine grievances and the rationalisation of reservations. That sub-committee has submitted its report to the Council of Ministers, and the recommendations are presently under consideration by the competent authority, the reply said. The department added that there is currently no proposal to introduce region-specific reservation quotas.
