SRINAGAR, June 24, 2025 :
Jammu and Kashmir may soon witness a significant change in its job reservation framework, as a Cabinet Sub-Committee report tabled before the Council of Ministers has proposed realignment of select reservation categories to create more space for open merit candidates.
The report, prepared in response to widespread protests by open category aspirants, has now been forwarded to the UT Law Department for legal vetting. Sources told Rising Kashmir that categories under review include Residents of Backward Areas (RBA), Residents near the Line of Control (ALC), Pahari Speaking People (PSP), and parts of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota.
“These categories fall within the administrative and legislative competence of the UT government,” a legal expert said, noting that they were formed under the J&K Reservation Act, 2004, which continues to apply via Section 96 of the J&K Reorganization Act, 2019.
Among these, RBA is likely to see calibrated reductions, especially due to overlap with Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations, which were recently enhanced by Parliament. This dual benefit, sources say, has narrowed open merit space, prompting corrective policy considerations.
The final decision awaits legal scrutiny, with officials emphasizing that any changes will protect vulnerable groups and maintain constitutional balance.
Analysts clarified that quotas created by Parliament—such as SC/ST—cannot be altered by the UT. However, locally modified or implemented quotas, like RBA and PSP, are legally adjustable under the UT’s discretion.
With the sub-committee having met its deadline, the government is expected to act swiftly once legal clearance is secured.
