KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today ruled that all appointments made under the amended Reservation Rules will be subject to the outcome of an ongoing petition challenging the validity of these rules.
The court was hearing a petition filed by five individuals seeking to declare the amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules of 2005 as null and void. The petitioners argue that the amendments have significantly altered the reservation structure, reducing opportunities for certain groups while increasing them for others.
According to the petitioners, the amendments have slashed the percentage of open merit seats in government recruitment and educational institutions from 57% to 33%, and reduced the allocation for Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) from 20% to 10%. At the same time, the reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) has doubled from 10% to 20%, while Social Caste reservations have risen from 2% to 8%. Similarly, reservations for the ALC (Actual Line of Control) category increased from 3% to 4%, and for Persons with Physical Disabilities (PHC) from 3% to 4%.
The petitioners contend that these changes unfairly affect open merit candidates and those from RBAs, thereby violating principles of equality and fairness in public recruitment and education.
The High Court has directed that all future appointments made under these rules will remain provisional and subject to the final decision in the case. To ensure comprehensive legal deliberations, the court has sought the assistance of Advocate General during the next hearing.
This ruling brings a temporary safeguard for those impacted by the amended reservation structure, while the broader implications of the changes await judicial scrutiny.
