President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday issued an order extending the benefits of reservation to economically backward sections in Jammu and Kashmir. A notification in this regard was issued after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took a decision on Thursday to issue the order, a Home Ministry official said.
The Union Cabinet that met on Thursday approved the ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Amendment Ordinance, 2019’.
With this, the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections has been made applicable in Jammu and Kashmir also. The Ordinance is likely to be the way for providing the benefit of promotion in service to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and also extend the reservation of up to 10 per cent for “economically weaker sections” in educational institutions and public employment in addition to the existing reservation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ten per cent reservation to economically weaker sections was introduced in the rest of the country through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment in January 2019. The Lok Sabha on January 8 had cleared the way for 10percent EWS quota Bill. Rajya Sabha, on the last day of winter session also passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 with 165 ‘ayes’ that seeks to provide reservation to upper caste while 7 voted against the bill.
The central government‘s move came as Jammu and Kashmir is currently under the President’s Rule. State Polls in the Valley is expected to be clubbed with Lok Sabha Elections 2019.
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