Clarification Sought on Scheduled Tribe Reservations Ahead of J&K Assembly Polls

As J&K assembly polls approach, the All Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar-Bakerwal organization coordination committee (AJKGBOCC) urges the Centre to clarify the reserved seat allocation for Scheduled Tribes (STs). Following the addition of four communities to the ST list, confusion has arisen about seat eligibility. The committee insists only ST-I groups should contest the nine reserved seats.

Ahead of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the All Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar-Bakerwal organization coordination committee (AJKGBOCC) has requested the Centre clarify the allocation of nine reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Union Territory.

After the Lok Sabha passed a bill in early 2024 adding four communities to the ST list, the J&K government approved additional reservations, bringing total ST reservations to 20%. This has caused confusion among ST communities regarding election eligibility.

AJKGBOCC chairman Mohd Anwar Chowdhary emphasized that only the originally classified ST-I groups should contest the reserved seats, based on the population data from 1989 and 1991. The committee has urged the government to maintain the integrity of these reservations to avoid undermining the rights of existing ST communities.

(With inputs from agencies.)