J&K Govt amends rules to benefit Pahari speaking population

at 11:25 pm
Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu

Jammu (NVI): In a significant development that would benefit at least nine lakh Pahari speaking people in Jammu and Kashmir, the UT administration today approved various amendments in the reservation rules.

The Administrative Council which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu today approved several amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005.

There are around 9.6 lakh Pahari Speaking People (PSP) across Jammu and Kashmir spread over mainly in Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla (Uri and Boniyar), Kupwara (Karna and Keran) and pockets of Anantnag, Budgam, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian.

Following the reorganization of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2004, it had become imperative to rationalize the existing reservation percentages to give representation to the PSP in the matters thereto.

For this purpose, necessary amendments have been approved in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005 to include PSP in the category of socially and educationally backward classes.

As per the extant reservation rules, the percentage of reservation in direct recruitments is 8 per cent to Scheduled Castes (SCs), 10 per cent to Scheduled Tribes (STs), 2 per cent to weaker and underprivileged classes (Social Caste), 3 per cent to residents of areas adjoining Line of Actual Control (ALC)/International Border (IB), 20 per cent to residents of backward areas (RBA). There is also a horizontal reservation of 6 per cent available to Ex-Servicemen and 3 per cent to Physically Challenged Persons (PHC).

Following rationalisation of the percentage of reservation of different categories in direct recruitment, the residents of backward areas will now have 10 per cent reservation, Pahari speaking people (4 per cent) and Economically weaker sections (10 per cent).

For claiming the benefit of PSP Category, a person must be a member of the Pahari Clan, Community or Tribe having distinct cultural, ethnic and linguistic identity; must be speaking Pahari language and his/her mother tongue must be Pahari.  He/She must possess a valid identity proof which can be either Aadhar Card or Domicile Certificate.  Tehsildar shall be competent authority to certify the claim of persons belonging to PSP.

Administrative Council has directed the Social Welfare Department to redraw the reservation roster upon fixation of the new percentages. The decision will not only help to rationalize the reservations across Jammu and Kashmir but will also give equitable representation to the Members of Pahari Community thereby meeting their long-pending demand.