SRINAGAR: A major disclosure in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has revealed a sharp regional disparity in the issuance of reservation and category certificates, with the Jammu division accounting for over 6.01 lakh certificates compared to around 1.79 lakh in the Kashmir division over the past two years.
The data, placed before the House in response to Starred Assembly Question by MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, provides a comprehensive breakdown of certificates issued across categories including Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST-1 and ST-2), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Residents of Backward Areas (RBA), and those living along the Actual Line of Control and International Border (ALC/IB).
The figures indicate that the bulk of certification activity is concentrated in the Jammu division, largely driven by the high volume of Scheduled Tribe certificates. Of the total 6.58 lakh Scheduled Tribe certificates issued across the Union Territory, an overwhelming majority—over 5.72 lakh—were issued in Jammu division alone, while Kashmir accounted for just over 86,000. Similarly, Scheduled Caste certificates—totalling 1.05 lakh—were almost entirely issued in Jammu, reflecting the negligible SC population in Kashmir.
Even in categories with broader eligibility, such as Economically Weaker Sections and Other Backward Classes, Jammu maintains a clear lead. The division recorded over 28,000 EWS certificates compared to around 3,500 in Kashmir. OBC certifications also show a higher concentration in Jammu, alongside significant issuance under the RBA and ALC/IB categories, which are geographically linked to border and backward areas predominantly located in the Jammu region.
District-level data further reinforces this divide. In Jammu division, districts such as Rajouri and Poonch account for a substantial share of Scheduled Tribe certifications, reflecting their large Gujjar and Bakarwal populations. Jammu district itself recorded high numbers in Scheduled Castes and OBC categories, while Kathua and Udhampur showed strong figures across multiple classifications. Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar also reported significant volumes, particularly in ST and RBA categories.
In contrast, Kashmir division presents a more moderate and evenly distributed pattern. Kupwara stands out with a relatively high number of Scheduled Tribe certificates, while Baramulla records notable figures in the Scheduled Caste category—though still far below Jammu levels. Districts such as Anantnag, Budgam and Pulwama show balanced issuance across OBC and RBA categories, whereas Srinagar records minimal numbers across most classifications, consistent with its urban demographic profile.
The government also disclosed that a significant number of applications were either rejected or remain pending. In Jammu division, over 79,000 applications fall into these categories, while in Kashmir, more than 21,700 applications were rejected and over 14,000 are pending. The reasons cited for rejection include non-fulfilment of eligibility criteria, concealment of facts, verification failures, incorrect applications and lack of required documentation. Pendency, officials said, is largely due to incomplete applications, delays in verification, discrepancies in records and technical issues, with all pending cases stated to be within the legally prescribed timelines.
On the issue of irregularities, the government reported a limited number of complaints regarding allegedly fraudulent certificates—nine in total across the Union Territory. Of these, one case from Ramban in Jammu division is currently sub judice before the Supreme Court, while eight cases in Budgam district have been disposed of in accordance with legal provisions. Additionally, 56 EWS certificates in Jammu district are currently under scrutiny.
Officials reiterated that all certificates are issued by Tehsildars under the framework of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, along with the Reservation Rules, 2005 and subsequent statutory orders.
The data highlights not only the scale of certification activity in Jammu and Kashmir but also a pronounced regional imbalance rooted in demographic composition and category eligibility, factors that are likely to shape future administrative and policy discussions in the Union Territory.
