Srinagar, Sep 21 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Monday urged the Omar Abdullah-led government to expedite the reservation rationalisation process, saying prolonged uncertainty is affecting students and job aspirants, particularly those competing in the Open Merit category.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), National Spokesperson Dr Zubair Reshi said the government had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee in late 2024 to examine the existing reservation framework and submit recommendations, with the exercise expected to be completed within six months.
However, nearly two years later, there is still no clear public information regarding the status of the committee’s report, its recommendations or the government’s proposed course of action.
“The government had sought six months to complete the exercise. Nearly two years have passed, yet students and aspirants are still waiting for clarity. If the committee has submitted its report, the government must make its recommendations public and clearly state where the matter stands. Students have a right to know about a policy that directly affects their educational and employment prospects,” he said.
Reshi said the prolonged ambiguity has created considerable anxiety among young people who have spent years pursuing higher education and preparing for competitive examinations. He stressed that the matter cannot be treated merely as an administrative issue, given its direct implications for admissions, recruitment and access to public employment.
He said the Association emphasised that reservation remains an important instrument of social justice and that the legitimate rights and concerns of reserved communities must be protected. At the same time, it said any reservation framework should be transparent, evidence-based and periodically reviewed using credible demographic, socio-economic and representation data.
“Any review must be based on credible data and constitutional principles. The objective should be to ensure that the reservation framework serves its intended purpose while maintaining transparency, fairness and public confidence. The legitimate concerns of reserved categories and Open Merit aspirants must be considered together,” the Association said.
The Association said the ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly provides an appropriate democratic forum for substantive discussion on the issue. It urged the government to place the status and recommendations of the Sub-Committee before the Assembly and facilitate a transparent debate, alongside consultations with students, job aspirants, academics, civil society and representatives of affected communities.
“The Assembly is the appropriate democratic forum to deliberate on an issue with such far-reaching consequences. A policy affecting the educational and employment prospects of an entire generation cannot remain confined to administrative files and closed-door discussions. The people deserve transparency and students deserve clarity,” Dr Reshi said.
He further said that Jammu and Kashmir’s youth are already confronting unemployment, financial pressures and limited opportunities. Prolonged uncertainty over a policy governing access to education and public employment adds to that burden and makes timely resolution even more important.
Reshi said JKSA’s demand for rationalisation and transparency should not be construed as opposition to reservation or directed against any particular community. The Association said its position is centred on fairness, transparency, evidence-based policymaking and clarity for all students and aspirants.
JKSA demanded that the Jammu and Kashmir government immediately disclose the present status of the Reservation Sub-Committee’s report, make its recommendations public, clarify which authority is currently examining the matter and announce a definite timeline for completing the rationalisation process.
The Association urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Cabinet to move beyond assurances and take concrete, transparent and time-bound steps to bring the review process to a logical conclusion—(KNO)