Controversy over reservation rules
Ministerial committee to hold consultation with all stakeholders to finalise its recommendations
Srinagar, Dec 10 (KNO): In a significant move, the Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday constituted a cabinet-sub- committee(CSC) headed by Social Welfare Minister Sakina Masood Ittoo to examine the grievances regarding reservation rules, which have triggered widespread resentment among the open merit candidates.
The CSC was constituted nearly 18 days after Omar-Abdullah cabinet approved it in its first cabinet meeting in Jammu on November 22.
The cabinet panel, according to an order, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), would examine the grievances projected by a section of aspirants for various posts regarding reservation rules, in consultation with all stakeholders.
According to the order, the CSC would be serviced by the Social Welfare Department, which deals with reservation and allied issues.
The CSC shall submit its report to the council of ministers, which is empowered to make amendments in reservation rules.
However, the order doesn’t set any deadline for the committee to submit its recommendation to the NC-led government, which, in its election manifesto, has promised to fill all vacant posts in government departments in its first 180 days.
In its manifesto, NC has pledged to rationalize reservation rules which have become more disadvantageous to open merit candidates over the years.
Recently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that CSC would take a holistic view on the matter. “They have been asked to see what has happened so far and whether we have gone beyond the Supreme Court’s recent directives or adhered to them,” he said. Omar had assured that justice would be done with everyone and nobody would be deprived of their rights—(KNO)