Srinagar, Mar 1 : General Category candidates in Jammu and Kashmir have urged the government to halt the ongoing recruitment process until the reservation policy is rationalized. They argue that the current system disproportionately favors reserved categories, leaving Open Merit candidates with inadequate opportunities.
According to the protesting candidates, out of 292 advertised posts, 115 have been allocated to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Additionally, 80 posts are designated for the general category under the OBC, ALC (Actual Line of Control), and RBA (Reserved Backward Area) categories, where SC/ST/OBC candidates cannot apply. The remaining 117 posts fall under Open Merit, with only 1% of selections reportedly coming from reserved categories. This distribution, they claim, results in 67% of selections being from General Category candidates.
Criticizing the policy as unfair, the aspirants argue that despite constituting over 70% of the population, Open Merit candidates secure less than 35% of government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir. They describe this as a “flagrant injustice” that must be rectified immediately.
“The entire onus of addressing this imbalance falls on the ruling government. The recruitment process must be stopped without delay until the reservation policy is rationalized,” the candidates said in a statement. They have called for the Cabinet Sub-Committee to expedite its report and urged the government to ensure a fair and equitable policy revision.
The aspirants also appealed to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to set aside party differences in the forthcoming Assembly session and pass legislation capping reservations at less than 40%. Furthermore, they demand the abolition of certain reservation categories that, according to them, have been exploited for decades by individuals residing in principal cities while enjoying affluent lifestyles. (CNS)
