National Conference raises concern over ‘skewed reservation policy’ in J&K
Senior National Conference leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have criticized the current reservation policy, arguing that it unfairly disadvantages general category candidates and merit-based admissions. The party is calling for a review of the quota system to address regional imbalances and concerns regarding the exclusion of specific demographics from government jobs.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the ongoing tension between affirmative action policies and meritocracy in India's sensitive political landscape, particularly in the context of J&K's unique administrative status.
Senior ruling National Conference (NC) leaders, including party president Farooq Abdullah and J&K Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, have raised concerns over the current reservation policy, introduced during Central rule in the Union Territory (UT) that benefits reservation category candidates up to 70%.
“General category candidates, if we keep increasing reservation, will be pushed to the status of the Scheduled Castes as was in 1947. Open merit is facing an injustice. An effort is needed to address this injustice. The current policy of quotas is taking jobs at the cost of merit,” Dr. Abdullah said in a speech made in Srinagar on Sunday.
Dr. Abdullah said there were growing complaints from meritorious students failing to get admission into professional colleges. “Open Merit aspirants’ complaint is that a majority of medical, engineering seats etc. were going to people with 45% marks and not those with 80% and above,” he added.
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