PDP leader cites official data showing Jammu dominates over Kashmir in SC, ST, EWS, and ALC categories
Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and legislator Waheed Para has alleged serious disparities in Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation system, claiming that the distribution of social category certificates shows an overwhelming bias in favour of the Jammu region.
Citing official data furnished by the Revenue Department in response to his query in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Para said that Jammu accounts for 99.2% of Scheduled Caste (SC), 87.2% of Scheduled Tribe (ST), 88.5% of Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and 85.2% of Actual Line of Control (ALC) certificates issued across the Union Territory.
In contrast, Kashmir’s share stands at a mere 0.67% (SC), 12.7% (ST), 11.4% (EWS), and 14.7% (ALC) respectively.
Calling the figures a “grave breach of fairness and equality,” Para said the data exposes a stark regional divide that undermines the spirit of social justice and equitable representation.
“This isn’t just a statistical anomaly — it’s a reflection of deep-rooted administrative bias that has persisted unchecked,” he said, urging the government to rationalise the reservation framework based strictly on population proportion and transparent criteria.
The legislator argued that such imbalances have long-term implications for access to education, jobs, and welfare benefits, and called for a comprehensive review of the reservation policy to ensure regional parity.
Political observers noted that Para’s disclosure could rekindle the long-standing debate over the political and bureaucratic power divide between the Jammu and Kashmir regions — a subject that has often fuelled public and political discourse in the Union Territory.
