The News Craving
Srinagar:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said that the reservation quota for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Jammu and Kashmir could go up to include new categories.
Prior to the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, the state’s reservation policy allocated 8% for Scheduled Castes (SC), 10% for STs, 2% for social castes, 3% for residents along the Line of Actual Control, 20% for residents from backward areas, 6% horizontal reservation for ex-servicemen, and 3% for physically challenged people.
Earlier this month, the Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was given assent by the Rajya Sabha. The bill aims to include Pahari Ethnic Group, Padari Tribes, Koli, and Gadda Brahmin in the Scheduled Tribe category.
The inclusion of these communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes will not affect the current level of reservations available to existing ST communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals,said BJP senior leader, Anil Gupta. “They will continue to receive reservations as before. Infact the ST reservation quota could go up.” Gupta stated that ST reservation could increase with a separate group of newly included categories in the STs.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, governs reservation in appointments and admissions to professional institutions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes. The Act however says,” Except as otherwise
provided hereinafter, available vacancies to the extent as may be notified by the Government from time to time shall be reserved for appointment by direct recruitment from amongst the person belonging to : (a) Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes which shall not
exceed the ratio and proportion as the population of each such category bears to the total population of the State as per the latest available census.”
The Act stipulates that the total percentage of reservation shall in no case
exceed 50%.