Srinagar: Amid growing concerns raised by political leaders Sajad Lone and Ruhullah Mehdi over regional imbalances in reservation allocations, Jammu & Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has issued a clarification regarding the timeline and functioning of the Cabinet sub-committee set up to review the issue.
In a statement released through his official handle on X (formerly Twitter), Omar Abdullah confirmed that the committee tasked with examining the complex issue of reservations in recruitment has been given a six-month timeline to complete its report.
“The Cabinet sub-committee constituted to examine the complicated issue of reservations in recruitment has been given a 6-month timeline to complete their report,” Abdullah wrote. “This timeline was set by me after I met with a concerned group of job aspirants.”
Addressing earlier concerns about the lack of a defined deadline, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the original order constituting the sub-committee did not mention a specific timeline. “This timeline, however, was not in the initial order setting up the sub-committee. That oversight will be corrected,” he assured.
Despite the omission, Abdullah sought to reassure the public that the committee is actively working within the designated timeframe. “Rest assured, the committee is working to complete its task in the set timeframe,” he emphasized.
The Chief Minister’s response comes in the wake of sharp criticism from Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, who termed the reservation allocation figures a “shocker” and alleged that the reservation system is “rigged against the Kashmiri-speaking population.” Lone cited data suggesting significant regional disparities in the issuance of category certificates, with Kashmir receiving a disproportionately lower share compared to Jammu.
Ruhullah Mehdi, a senior leader and MLA, had also voiced serious reservations about the fairness of the reservation framework and the delays in addressing grievances.
With mounting pressure from political leaders and public scrutiny, the Chief Minister’s clarification may offer some reassurance. However, stakeholders continue to demand transparency, timely action, and a balanced approach to address the alleged regional disparities in reservation benefits.
The committee’s findings, expected within the six-month period, are now highly anticipated as they may shape future policy decisions regarding recruitment and reservation policies in Jammu and Kashmir.
