Govt may enhance Open Merit quota to 40%; Reservation Rules likely to be amended with reasons to be recorded
The Biz Reporter
JAMMU, Dec 2: With the all-important reservation issue set to dominate the day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has convened a crucial Cabinet meeting on December 3 amid strong indications that the quota for Open Merit (OM) candidates in Government jobs and educational institutions may be enhanced from the existing 30 percent to 40 percent.
Official sources told Excelsior that the Cabinet will meet at 9 am in the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, marking the first formal Cabinet session after the annual Darbar Move offices reopened in the winter capital. The revival of this practice, restored during Omar Abdullah’s tenure, comes after a gap of more than four years.
As the Cabinet convenes after nearly six weeks, multiple departments have placed their agenda items for consideration. However, sources confirmed that the reservation policy will take centre stage, overshadowing other proposals.
According to insiders, the Government is considering amending the Reservation Rules, particularly to reduce the quota allotted to the Resident of Backward Areas (RBA) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) categories to accommodate the proposed increase for Open Merit.
“The Government will have to justify any reduction in existing reservation percentages,” sources said. “As per guidelines, EWS has a maximum cap of 10 percent, which can be curtailed if the Government provides valid reasons. The RBA quota too has fluctuated over the years.”
Once pegged at a substantial 20 percent, the RBA category was gradually reduced to 10 percent following allegations that influential individuals, including political leaders and certain officials, manipulated the inclusion of their villages in the category to secure benefits for their relatives.
With pressure mounting for a more equitable distribution and concerns over misuse of certain categories, the upcoming Cabinet meeting is expected to be decisive in shaping the future contours of Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation framework.
The outcome of the December 3 meeting is likely to have far-reaching implications for job aspirants, students, and various reserved categories across the Union Territory.
