The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association Wednesday strongly criticized the Jammu and Kashmir government for its lack of clarity and transparency regarding the contentious reservation policy. Following a meeting between a five-member delegation of the students and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the latter assured that a cabinet sub-committee would submit its review report within six months. However, the association has termed this assurance insufficient and lacking immediate impact.
National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said, “Even after two days have passed since the meeting with the Chief Minister, there have been no minutes of the meeting nor any official statement from the government regarding the commitments made during the discussion. This absence of communication reflects the government’s lack of clarity and seriousness on such a critical issue.We have discussed the issue with various groups of students and stakeholders. They have expressed complete dissatisfaction with the government, saying they are not serious about addressing their concerns.”
The association has demanded that the government should release an official statement outlining the Chief Minister’s commitments, particularly the assurance that the reservation issue would be resolved within six months. “Students deserve transparency. The government must officially clarify its position and ensure accountability for the promises made during the meeting,” it added.
He emphasized, “There will be no talks or deliberations with the government until the sub-committee is streamlined. We want the committee to be streamlined, inclusive, similar to Parliament’s Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPC), which include members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as well as representatives from the government and the opposition. The current sub-committee’s composition is deeply flawed, as two of its members belong to the reserved category. How can open merit students expect justice from a committee that is inherently biased towards one side?”
He further added, “If the government is genuinely serious about resolving this issue, they must ensure that the process is fair, streamlined, and inclusive. The sub-committee must represent all stakeholders, including students, aspirants, retired Judge and independent voices, to instill confidence in its ability to deliver fair and just recommendations.”
The association also reiterated its demand for an immediate halt to all ongoing recruitments under the disputed policy until the review is completed. It insisted that the review process should be expedited and concluded within three months, as six months is too long to wait for a resolution.
The association said that the Chief Minister had promised mass recruitment soon after government formation. Does this mean that students will have to wait for six months now while all these mass recruitments are carried out under the current reservation policy? This would be a gross injustice. The government must ensure that no recruitments take place under the existing reservation policy until the review is completed, and a fair, transparent system is put in place. Any further delay could lead to greater resentment and a loss of trust among the student community.
The association expressed concerns over the lack of any guarantee that the committee’s report will ultimately favor students or bring meaningful reforms. The government has not assured whether the report will address the grievances of students or simply maintain the status quo. This uncertainty only adds to the frustration and mistrust among the affected communities.
Khuehami asserted that adding to the confusion are contradictory statements from leaders and Ministers of the ruling National Conference. While the Chief Minister assured a review, Minister Javid Rana categorically said that “nobody can touch ST-1 and ST-2,” signaling resistance to any potential changes. Education Minister Sakina Yatoo, on the other hand, refrained from commenting, citing the matter as sub-judice.
“Dodging questions on reservations under the pretext of a sub-judice matter is unfair. The Supreme Court, in the case of Amit Sahni vs. Commissioner of Police & Ors. (2020), while addressing the Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), clearly observed: We had noted in our order dated 17.02.2020 that despite the law facing a constitutional challenge before this Court, that by itself will not take away the right to protest of the persons who feel aggrieved by the legislation. This judgment affirms that the sub-judice status of a matter does not eliminate the right to debate, protest, discuss, or deliberate upon it in a democratic setup.”
Ummar Jamal, President of the Association, criticised these inconsistencies, calling them indicative of the government’s lack of a cohesive approach. Attempts to suppress discussions in the guise of judicial processes not only weaken democratic values but also reflect poorly on the intent and commitment of the government towards public interest and fair governance, it added.
“This incoherence and lack of communication reflect poorly on the government’s commitment to resolving the issue. The government must immediately release an official statement, halt ongoing recruitments, and make the sub-committee more inclusive and impartial,” he emphasized.
Jamal emphasized that continued delays, ambiguity, and lack of transparency could lead to further distress among students and the larger public. “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir demand decisive action, not hollow promises. The government must act now, it further added. (KDC)
