SRINAGAR: Fresh controversy has erupted over Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation system after official data exposed sharp regional imbalances in the issuance of reservation certificates, leaving marginalized communities in Kashmir feeling betrayed.
Government figures released recently in the Legislative Assembly show that Jammu has secured an overwhelming majority of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and other reservation certificates, with Kashmir trailing far behind across every category.
From April 2023 to March 2025, Jammu received 67,112 SC certificates while Kashmir received none.
In the ST category, Jammu was issued 459,493 certificates, accounting for 85.3 per cent of the total, whereas Kashmir received just 79,813, representing a mere 14.7 per cent.
The EWS category showed a similar disparity, with Jammu getting 27,420 certificates compared to Kashmir’s 2,273.
For Reserved Backward Area (RBA) certificates, Jammu had 1,379 while Kashmir had 1,229, the only category where the figures were relatively close. However, in the Actual Line of Control Certificates (ALC) category, Jammu was issued 268 certificates and Kashmir just 16.
For International Border (IB) certificates, Jammu received 551 while Kashmir received none.
These figures, cited from the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly proceedings and corroborated by reports in various media outlets, reveal a stark imbalance favouring Jammu, despite Kashmir having a larger share of marginalized populations in several categories.
The Gujjar and Bakarwal communities, long recognized as STs, have expressed deep resentment over what they view as systemic neglect.
Dilawar, a Gujjar from Anantnag, lamented that although his community has belonged to the ST category for generations, government jobs reserved for STs overwhelmingly go to candidates from Jammu.
He pointed out that even scholarships meant for ST students rarely reach Gujjar settlements in Kashmir, leaving the youth disillusioned and without opportunities.
Paharis facing similar challenges
The newly designated Pahari community, granted ST status in 2023, is encountering similar challenges.
Mohd Ajmal, a Pahari student from Baramulla, said that instead of providing relief, the new status had only widened the regional gap.
According to him, while groups in Jammu quickly benefitted from the change, many in Kashmir continued to struggle to obtain the necessary documents, with bureaucratic delays compounding their difficulties.
Other marginalized groups, including holders of the Resident of Backward Area (RBA) certificate, echoed these concerns.
Abrar from Kupwara questioned the fairness of the system, stating that if the reservation process was genuinely transparent, the data would not show such a huge gap between the two regions.
He warned that the discrepancies were sowing seeds of alienation among Kashmiri youth.
Even students competing purely on merit are feeling the impact. Nasir Ahmad, a graduate from Srinagar, pointed out that while reservations are crucial for uplifting disadvantaged communities, a system that disproportionately favours one region undermines both meritocracy and social trust. He called for greater transparency and a review of how certificates are issued.
Numair Mehraj, a UPSC mentor and columnist, said the reservation system’s original intent — to uplift historically marginalized communities — was being dangerously undermined.
According to him, when the system is manipulated for political advantage, it harms not only the targeted communities but society as a whole.
Mehraj also challenged the oft-repeated claim that reservations dilute merit, pointing out that dropout rates for SC/ST students are 40 per cent higher compared to upper-caste students. He noted that over 13,500 SC/ST/OBC students had dropped out of premier educational institutions in the past five years and that SC/ST candidates have an 8 per cent selection rate in elite services like IAS, far below the mandated 22.5 per cent.
Mehraj stressed that scrapping reservations would only deepen existing inequalities rather than promote meritocracy.
Speaking specifically about the ST certificate issue, Mehraj highlighted that Kashmir has a larger ST population than Jammu, yet Jammu receives 85 per cent of the certificates. He called for an independent investigation to uncover potential administrative biases that could be driving the disparity.
In December 2024, the J&K government announced the formation of a Cabinet Sub-Committee to examine grievances related to reservation allocations. However, there has been no clear timeline set for its findings, leaving affected communities anxious and sceptical about whether any meaningful reforms will be undertaken.
Demand for Swift Reforms
Community leaders and experts are demanding swift reforms. They argue that reservation certificates must be distributed fairly based on accurate population data, that an independent probe must be launched to identify any bias in the system, and that greater transparency must be introduced in the certificate issuance process to eliminate corruption.
Political leaders across the spectrum have seized on the issue.
Sajad Gani Lone, president of the People’s Conference, voiced outrage, saying the magnitude of quotas denied to Kashmiri-speaking people was shocking. He said even the Kashmiri ST community, supposedly among the biggest beneficiaries, accounted for only 15 per cent of the total ST certificates.
Lone argued that the entire reservation setup appeared "rigged" against the Kashmiri-speaking population. Leaders from the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) echoed these sentiments, demanding an immediate review of the reservation policy to ensure a fair distribution of opportunities.
The impact of this imbalance extends far beyond mere statistics. In education, fewer reservation certificates mean fewer reserved seats in colleges for Kashmiri students, putting them at a disadvantage compared to their peers from Jammu.
In employment, limited certification results in restricted access to reserved government jobs, narrowing career opportunities for marginalized communities. Socially, growing perceptions of discrimination are deepening mistrust between Jammu and Kashmir, fuelling tensions that could have long-term consequences for regional stability.
The disparities in Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation system go beyond administrative inefficiencies. They represent lost opportunities, rising anger, and growing distrust among marginalized groups. Whether the government chooses to act decisively or lets the status quo persist will determine if the region can move towards a more equitable future or slide further into division and discontent.
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