The Biz Reporter
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced that the government will finally take up the long-pending reservation proposal in the next cabinet meeting, now that the Model Code of Conduct enforced during the elections has ended.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said the cabinet sub-committee tasked with examining the reservation framework has already completed its report, but the government deliberately refrained from moving it forward during the election period to avoid allegations of violating electoral guidelines.
“As far as reservation is concerned, I have already told you, the cabinet sub-committee report is done. A cabinet meeting will be held,” he said. “We were constrained by the fact that I did not want anybody to sabotage this by going to the Election Commission and saying they have done this because of the code of conduct.”
The Chief Minister said the government is now free to act. “Code of conduct is over, elections are over. In the next meeting of the cabinet, the minister concerned will bring the memo to the cabinet and we will discuss it there,” he added.
Abdullah’s remarks come at a time when various communities and political groups have been pressing the government to clarify its position on reservation reforms, including possible adjustments in quotas and eligibility criteria. His statement suggests the administration is preparing to move ahead with policy decisions that were put on hold during the election cycle.
While the Chief Minister did not give a specific timeline for when the cabinet will meet, officials have indicated that the memo could be taken up in the coming days, setting the stage for a significant policy discussion that has been eagerly awaited across the Union Territory.
