SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that Scheduled Tribe (ST)-I reservation is being implemented uniformly across the Union Territory.
Minister for Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo, made the statement while responding to a question from Legislator Narinder Singh Raina. She clarified that the ST-II category reservation is not region-based or area-specific but is granted on the basis of Pahari ethnicity, as outlined in SRO 176 of 2024.
The Minister added that the extension of ST-II reservation benefits to the Pahari ethnic group is grounded in their ethnic, cultural, and linguistic identity rather than their geographic location. “The inclusion is consistent with constitutional principles of equality, fairness and non-discrimination,” she said.
Itoo further noted that no separate assessment of regions has been undertaken, as the reservation is based solely on ethnic identity.
Supplementary questions on the matter were raised by legislators Ajaz Ahmed Jan and Rameshwar Singh during the session.
