No deadline for panel examining quota system

CM Omar Abdullah said the panel has been given 6 months to file the report

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday informed that no specific timeline has been set for the three-member cabinet sub-committee (CSC) constituted to examine reservation rules for government jobs in the union territory.

Responding to a question by People's Conference (PC) MLA Sajad Gani Lone (in absentia) during question hour at the legislative assembly here, the minister in-charge social welfare Sakina Itoo said that no specific timeline has been fixed for submitting the report by CSC.

Lone had asked whether a six-month timeline had been granted to the CSC for submitting the report. "The CSC stands constituted vide government order number 2061-JKGAD of 2024, dated December 10, 2024, to examine the grievances projected by a section of aspirants for various posts regarding reservation rules. However, no specific timeline has been fixed for submitting the report," she said.

The minister also informed the house that 5,26,605 certificates under Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribe categories have been issued in Jammu region since April 1, 2023, while the number of such certificates issued in Kashmir region during this period was 79,813.

She also informed that 2,198 villages in Jammu were benefited under Actual Line of Control (ALC), International Border (IB) and Reserved Backward Area (RBA) while the number is 1,245 in Kashmir. "Similarly, 29,963 certificates under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) have been issued in J&K since April 1, 2023. Of which, 27,420 have been issued in Jammu region and 2,273 in Kashmir," she said.