ibn sultan
Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), in collaboration with the J&K Centre for Peace, Research & Sustainable Development (JKCPRS), released a detailed report on Monday calling for major changes to the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The report was launched by JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami, along with JKCPRS Chairman Mushtaq Habeeb and Advisor Danish Lone.
In a statement, the Khuehami said a delegation from the JKSA handed over the report to the Chief Minister’s Office and met with Nasir Sogami, Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Sogami assured them that the report would be reviewed seriously and could help shape future policy.
The report aims to highlight flaws and inequalities in the current reservation system and offers 15 key recommendations.
These include a caste-based socio-economic census, better sub-categorisation within reserved groups, clearer rules for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and restoring the 60:40 ratio between open merit and reserved categories.
Khuehami said the report is a roadmap for reform. It examines the history of reservation in J&K, compares it with national and global standards, and points out ongoing problems that continue to sideline deserving groups. He stressed the need for a fair system based on social justice and constitutional values.
The report was prepared by a 12-member expert committee led by JKSA President Ummar Jamal. The team includes academics, lawyers, and policy professionals like Faizaan Peer, Farhat Riyaz, Osheeba Bashir, and Krishna Saproo, among others.
Khuehami said that the group is not against reservations but against a broken system that does not serve the truly deserving. He called for a balance between helping disadvantaged groups and maintaining merit.
The Association plans to engage with civil society, universities, and student groups to collect wider feedback. They will host town halls, public meetings, and accept written suggestions before releasing a follow-up white paper.
They also urged the government to temporarily pause recruitment in J&K until the flaws in the reservation system are corrected. “It’s not a demand to stop hiring completely,” they said. “But recruitment under a flawed system will only deepen injustice.” (The Week)
