The reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir has become a focal point of contention, with National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi expressing dissatisfaction over the government’s ambiguous stance on reviewing the policy.
Recently, an official statement mentioned that “no specific timeline has been fixed for submitting the report” on the reservation policy review, a revelation that Mehdi deems a potential betrayal of public trust. The MP shared the post on X along with a photo of an official document.
In 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir administration amended the reservation policy, increasing reserved seats to 60%, thereby reducing the open merit (general category) seats to 40%. This shift has been criticised for undermining merit-based opportunities and disproportionately affecting deserving candidates. The policy changes have sparked widespread protests, with students and political figures alike demanding a rationalisation of the reservation quotas to reflect population proportions.
MP Ruhullah Mehdi has been at the forefront of the opposition to the revised reservation policy. He has participated in protests, advocating for equal opportunities for open merit students and calling for a fair and just reservation system. Mehdi believes that the reservation policy should align with the Supreme Court’s rulings and be proportionate to the population distribution to prevent discrimination.
The government’s recent admission of not setting a specific timeline for the reservation policy review has exacerbated concerns. Mehdi has expressed disappointment over this revelation, interpreting it as a potential breach of the assurances previously given to the public.
He has called upon the Chief Minister’s office to clarify whether this lack of a timeline is due to a clerical error or a miscommunication between departments. Mehdi warns that if this ambiguity is intentional, it would constitute a blatant betrayal of the students and citizens who have placed their trust in the elected government.
