A recruitment drive by the Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Department has rekindled political debate over the region’s contentious reservation policy, as opposition leaders and job aspirants raise concerns about what they describe as shrinking space for merit-based hiring.
On Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board advertised 75 vacancies for the post of Naib Tehsildar. Of these, 45 posts were allocated to reserved categories, while 30 were open to general category candidates — a 60:40 ratio that has drawn sharp criticism.
“Yet another recruitment advertisement is out. And 30 seats for open merit, compared to 45 reserved,” People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone posted on X. “If the government is serious about change, they would have waited for the subcommittee report.”
Waheed ur Rehman Parra, an MLA and senior leader of the People’s Democratic Party, also questioned the delay in finalising the review. “Students are demanding answers, not delays @sakinaitoo ji. Why hold back the cabinet committee report on merit?” he wrote on X, referring to Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo.
Mounting public discontent over reservations — set against a backdrop of high unemployment — prompted the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee on December 10, 2024, to examine the issue. The panel was given six months to submit its report.
On Tuesday, Sakina Itoo confirmed the sub-committee had completed its work. “The Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine the issue of reservations has drafted its report within the stipulated time frame of six months. The report will be placed before the Cabinet when it meets,” she posted on X.
Controversial Reservation Policy
In March 2024, the administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005, granting an additional 10 per cent reservation to four communities — Paharis, Paddaris, Kolis, and Gadda Brahmins — by classifying them as Scheduled Tribes (STs).
This raised the total ST quota to 20 per cent. The reservation for Other Backward Classes was also doubled from 4 per cent to 8 per cent, bringing the total reservations to 60 per cent, despite the 2011 census showing 69 per cent of the population classified as ‘general’. The policy raised concerns among the job aspirants falling under the general category. On December 23, 2024, ruling party MP Aga Ruhullah led a student protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence, demanding a rationalisation of the reservation policy.
Aspirants’ concern
“Many of us in the last six months have crossed the upper age limit for government services. If the report is ready, the government should submit it forthwith,” said Aabid Hussain, a job aspirant.
He said they were not against the reservation policy but demanded a fair balance. “The reservation should not be made at the cost of shrinking opportunities for open merit candidates”, he added.