On March 15, 2025, Sajad Lone, the president of Peoples Conference and member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, raised serious allegations against the implementation of the reservation system, claiming it is rigged against the Kashmiri-speaking population, particularly affecting the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) residing within the region.
Addressing the media, Lone highlighted stark regional imbalances surrounding the issuance of reservation certificates and presented fresh data obtained from his inquiries during assembly sessions. He stated, "The data shows vast regional disparity. It highlights stark regional imbalances... The findings are a shocker." Lone’s critique is directed at what he sees as systemic issues channeling benefits heavily toward the Jammu region at the expense of Kashmir.
To substantiate his claims, Lone pointed to startling statistics reflecting the distribution of reservation certificates since April 1, 2023. He disclosed, "100% of the 67,112 Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates issued by the Union Territory during this period were exclusively granted in Jammu," with no certificates issued to candidates from Kashmir.
Further emphasizing the disparities, Lone cited figures showing the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category: Jammu issued 459,493 certificates, which makes up 85.3% of the total, whereas Kashmir only issued 79,813 certificates—just 14.7% of the total. This was corroborated by similar disparities found within the EWS category where Jammu accounted for 92.3% of certificates, leaving just 7.7% for Kashmir.
He articulated concerns about these numbers, asserting, "Kashmir as region is far far behind. The net loss of quotas to the Kashmiri speaking population is of a much higher scale than we had thought." This claim pointed to the significant impact on access to educational and employment opportunities due to the skewed allocation of reservation privileges.
Further compounding the issue was Lone’s assessment of certificates issued for the Actual Line of Control (ALC), with Jammu getting 94.3% of the benefits compared to just 5.7% for Kashmir. Even for the International Border (IB) categories, Jammu received 100% of those certificates, which, according to Lone, signifies deep-rooted inequalities within the reservation framework.
Lone also lamented the plight of Scheduled Tribes living in Kashmir, noting, "Even the ST population living in Kashmir is a net loser. They make up only 15% of the total applicants from the ST pool." This comment highlights the marginalization faced by this community, which, according to Lone, is largely unaddressed by the current policies.
Expanding on governmental responses and commitments, Lone expressed disappointment with the committee established by the Jammu and Kashmir government on December 10, 2024, intended to examine grievances related to reservations. He criticized the lack of a specific timeline for when the committee would report back, stating, "We were told it is 6 months timeline." Lone views this as indicative of a broader disregard for the concerns raised by the Kashmiri population.
He voiced his concerns not merely as opposition to the reservation system, stating, "I am not against reservation; I am against the murder of merit." He pointed out the inherent inequities within the application of reservation laws which disproportionately disadvantaged Kashmiri candidates. Lone suggested familiar scenarios where, on average, if 100 candidates participated, 60 seats are designated for reserved categories. He remarked, "Out of this reservation, 50.78 seats are for Jammu and 9.22 for Kashmir. So, before you apply reservation, Kashmiris have already been crowded out." This highlights the systemic barriers he claims are being perpetuated against Kashmiri students and job applicants.
Lamenting the long-term effects, he stated, "Academically, it will take a century to undo the damage" caused by these disparities which have persisted since 1989, according to him. Lone's candid reflections underline the negative ramifications suffered by the Kashmiri-speaking community due to unjust practices and systemic biases.
To address these issues, the Peoples Conference intends to organize a seminar inviting scholars and academics to indulge in discussions about the ramifications of the reservation system, promoting awareness and academic inquiry on this pressing issue.