Srinagar: Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Peoples Conference and MLA Sajad Lone has raised serious concerns over what he describes as alarming regional disparities in the issuance of reservation certificates across Jammu and Kashmir. Terming the figures as a “shocker”, the senior leader highlighted that the Kashmiri-speaking population appears to be at a significant disadvantage in terms of access to reservation benefits.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Lone presented a detailed breakdown of the category certificates issued between April 1, 2023, and March 2025, showing a stark imbalance between the two regions.
According to the data shared:
- Scheduled Caste (SC):
Jammu Region – 67,112 certificates issued (100%)
Kashmir Region – NIL (0%) - Scheduled Tribe (ST):
Jammu Region – 4,59,493 certificates issued (85.3%)
Kashmir Region – 79,813 certificates issued (14.7%) - Economically Weaker Sections (EWS):
Jammu Region – 27,420 certificates issued (92.3%)
Kashmir Region – 2,273 certificates issued (7.7%) - ALC (Actual Line of Control):
Jammu Region – 268 certificates issued (94.3%)
Kashmir Region – 16 certificates issued (5.7%) - IB (International Border):
Jammu Region – 551 certificates issued (100%)
Kashmir Region – 0 certificates issued (0%) - RBA (Resident of Backward Area):
Jammu Region – 1,379 certificates issued (52.8%)
Kashmir Region – 1,229 certificates issued (48.2%)
“These numbers are startling,” he said. “The net loss of quotas to the Kashmiri-speaking population is of a much higher scale than we had thought. Even the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population living in Kashmir, which should benefit significantly from reservations, constitutes only 15% of the total applicants from the ST pool.”
He also pointed out that although the population of Kashmir is estimated to be around 7% higher than Jammu, areas under the RBA (Resident of Backward Area) category are proportionately similar. Despite this, Jammu continues to have higher numbers in certificate issuance. “When you adjust for population, Kashmir is again left behind,” he stated.
The Peoples Conference leader alleged that the current reservation system appears to be “rigged against the Kashmiri-speaking population.” He expressed concerns that both Scheduled Tribe and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) groups living in Kashmir are being sidelined. “The entire concept of reservations in Jammu and Kashmir is being implemented in a way that systematically disadvantages the people of Kashmir,” he said.
The leader also raised concerns about the government-appointed committee, established on December 10, 2024, to examine grievances related to reservations. “The committee was announced three months ago, and we were told it has a six-month timeline. But there’s no clarity, no progress, and no sense of urgency to address these disparities,” he remarked.
As the debate over reservation policies intensifies, political analysts believe this issue could spark a broader discussion on regional equity and representation in Jammu & Kashmir. Many in Kashmir are now questioning whether the reservation framework is serving its intended purpose of uplifting marginalized communities across both regions equally.
