Reservation System ‘Rigged Against Kashmir’: Sajad Lone Reveals Shocking Certificate Data

Jammu Region Claims Over 90% of Reservation Certificates, Kashmir Left Behind.

Srinagar, March 15 – In a startling revelation, Peoples Conference President and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone has exposed stark disparities in the issuance of reservation certificates across Jammu and Kashmir, calling the system “rigged against the Kashmiri-speaking population. “Sharing data obtained through an official query, Lone revealed that Jammu region overwhelmingly dominates the issuance of reservation certificates, while Kashmir lags far behind in multiple categories. Certificate Distribution: Jammu Dominates, Kashmir Left Behind According to the data: Scheduled Caste (SC) Certificates – 100% issued in Jammu (67,112), 0% in Kashmir.Scheduled Tribe (ST) Certificates – 85.3% issued in Jammu (459,493), while Kashmir received only 14.7% (79,813). Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Certificates – 92.3% in Jammu, compared to 7.7% in Kashmir. Actual Line of Control (ALoC) Certificates – 94.3% issued in Jammu, only 5.7% in Kashmir. International Border (IB) Certificates – 100% issued in Jammu, none in Kashmir. Reserved Backward Area (RBA) Certificates – 52.8% in Jammu, while Kashmir received 48.2%. “Systematically Disadvantaging Kashmiris.” Lone emphasized that these figures expose deep-rooted structural biases in the reservation system, disproportionately affecting the Kashmiri-speaking population, ST communities, and economically weaker sections in Kashmir. He pointed out that even within the ST category, only 15% of the total beneficiaries belong to Kashmir, despite the region having a significant tribal population. While the RBA figures appear closer, Lone noted that when adjusted for population size—Kashmir being approximately 7% larger than Jammu—it is still at a disadvantage.Government Panel Under Fire. Lone also criticized the government’s response, particularly the committee formed on December 10, 2024, to examine these disparities. He raised concerns that the panel has no clear deadline, despite previous indications of a six-month timeframe for submitting its report. Political Fallout & Demands for ReformThe revelations have sparked outrage in Kashmir, with political observers calling for urgent policy corrections to ensure fair allocation of reservation benefits. As demands grow for greater transparency and equity, Lone’s findings are likely to fuel further debate over the systemic biases in Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policies.