SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said that a report prepared by a Cabinet sub-committee on reservation has been approved by the Cabinet and forwarded to the Union Government. The report will be made public once a final decision is received from the Centre.
The Cabinet sub-committee, constituted on December 10, 2024, was tasked with examining grievances raised by various sections of aspirants regarding the existing reservation policy in the Union Territory. The committee submitted its findings to the Lieutenant Governor in October 2025.
Replying to a discussion on grants in the Assembly for the Departments of Health, Social Welfare, and Education, Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said the government has adopted a consultative approach on the reservation issue, keeping the interests of youth central to deliberations.
“After Cabinet discussion and approval, the report was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor. As mentioned by the Chief Minister recently, the LG has forwarded it to the Union Home Minister,” Itoo said. She added that once the final decision is received, the report will be placed before the public.
The minister explained that the Chief Minister received several representations after the formation of the government, which led to the formation of a three-member ministerial sub-committee to examine the issue. The committee consulted delegations from multiple regions, including Rajouri, Srinagar, Baramulla, Jammu, and Kathua, and across political lines. A detailed report was prepared, reviewed by government departments, and discussed before final submission.
The report, approved by the Cabinet, has been sent to the LG, who has forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry for consideration. The matter remains confidential while under examination. Itoo emphasised that the government’s approach focused on merit and youth welfare rather than vote politics.
She also thanked Assembly members for raising constituency-specific issues during grant discussions and assured that all concerns would be examined for necessary follow-up. Itoo highlighted that the Budget 2026-27, presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, prioritises inclusive growth, education, healthcare, social welfare, and women’s empowerment to improve service delivery and public welfare across Jammu and Kashmir.
The reservation issue has gained prominence in the Union Territory following the Central Government’s decision over the past five years to expand quotas, including the introduction of a 10 per cent reservation for Paharis and other tribes and an increase in the OBC quota to eight per cent, raising objections to the overall reservation quota being pushed to 70 per cent.
