Cabinet constitutes sub-committee to look into reservation issue

Srinagar, Nov 22: Amid growing controversy over the reservation policy in Jammu & Kashmir, the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday constituted a cabinet sub-committee (CSC) to take a “holistic view” on the matter.
Sources said that the cabinet, which met at Omar Abdullah’s Jammu residence this morning, decided to constitute a sub-committee to examine the reservation policy and present a report on it to the cabinet. The three-member CSC will be headed by Sakeena Itoo and comprises Javid Rana and Satish Sharma. Sakeena Itoo’s Social Welfare Ministry deals with reservation and allied issues.
The CSC is expected to consult different stakeholders before finalizing its recommendations and submitting the same to the cabinet.
Talking to reporters this evening, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the main decision taken in the cabinet today was setting up a sub-committee on the issue of reservation. “Many things were being discussed about the reservation. There were concerns and complaints about it. Our youth, especially from the open category, feel that they are not getting their rights, but at the same time, those brought under the purview of reservation don’t want them to be deprived of their rights. That is why the cabinet decided to constitute a sub-committee,” he said.
He added that the cabinet has directed the committee to take a holistic view on the matter. “They have been asked to see what has happened so far and whether we have gone beyond the Supreme Court’s recent directives or adhered to them,” he said. He assured that justice would be done with everyone and nobody would be deprived of their rights.
The committee has been constituted at a time when open category candidates are feeling marginalized due to the existing reservation policy which reserves 60 % jobs for different categories, leaving less than 40 % for open merit category.