Srinagar, 19 September (H.S.): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Saturday led a protest in Srinagar against the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, with demonstrators raising concerns over the shrinking share of opportunities for Open Merit aspirants.

Iltija Mufti demanded greater transparency in the ongoing review of the existing reservation framework and urged the government to make the findings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine and rationalise the reservation policy public without further delay.

She said students and job aspirants have a legitimate right to know what recommendations have been made on an issue that directly affects their educational and employment opportunities.

The protestors called for the report to be published in the public domain and for the government to address the concerns of Open Merit aspirants through a transparent and consultative process.

Jammu and Kashmir's revised reservation policy has become a major contentious issue after the LG administration amended the 2002 quota rules in 2024, granting 10 per cent reservation to Paharis under the Scheduled Tribe category and adding over 15 castes to the Scheduled Caste list. The move sparked protests, including a December 20, 2024 demonstration outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's residence in Srinagar.

The government later formed a Cabinet Sub-Committee to rationalise the policy.

Its report was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the LG and returned with queries, which the government said it addressed before resubmitting the report to the LG. On August 14 this year , J&K Chief Minister Omar warned of Gen Z-like protests if his Cabinet's proposal to tweak the reservation system in the union Territory wasn't acted upon.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar