Affidavit Row

After taking a principled position on the contentious reservations issue, the elected Jammu & Kashmir government submitted an affidavit in the High Court, calling a writ petition against the reservation policy "frivolous" and "mischievous." This has generated fresh controversy with the opposition accusing the government of hypocrisy.

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It was only weeks ago that the government in response to growing public protests and civil society pressure, set up a cabinet sub-committee to look into the issue of unfair job quotas. The sub-committee, headed by Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo, was meant to recommend reform to the existing quotas, which are believed to disproportionately favour the underprivileged classes. But the affidavit tells another story altogether: it goes against the government position.