Following public outcry, J&K’s Cabinet Sub-Committee meets stakeholders on reservation issue

Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo said the government was “actively engaging with stakeholders”, Referring to the meeting at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Facing a public outcry, a three-member Cabinet Sub-Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday (April 6, 2025) met stakeholders, mainly students, over the issue of revised reservation quotas that reduced the ‘Open Merit’ category to less than 40% reservation following Central rule in the Union Territory.  

In its affidavit submitted to the High Court, the J&K government had opposed a petition filed by an Open Merit quota aspirant, and termed it as “misuse of judicial process” and “non-entertainable”.  

With Opposition parties criticising the affidavit strongly, Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo has promised a report within six months. “The government is fully committed to fulfilling its promises regarding the issue. We assure everyone that the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Reservations will give its report within six months,” Ms. Itoo said.

Sameer Yousuf, an educator and engineer, said he had voted in the 2024 Assembly election upon the promise of rationalisation of reservations by the National Conference (NC). “During the meeting, the committee reiterated that it would submit a report in six months and fulfill the promise. On the government’s strongly-worded affidavit filed in the court, the Minister [for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo] said, ‘it can be changed’. We want the right to equal opportunity through rationalisation of the reservation quota,” Mr. Yousuf said.

Referring to the meeting at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar, Ms. Itoo said the government was “actively engaging with stakeholders”. 

“We met various delegations and received their representation. We are examining the representations. The committee’s final report will shut the mouth of those who are doing drama on the issue,” the Minister said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah constituted the Cabinet Sub-Committee “to review and recommend measures related to reservations”. An official spokesperson said the committee was mandated “to take the viewpoint of every section of society to arrive at an amicable solution where everyone’s interest is safeguarded”.