Srinagar, Dec 03 : Cabinet Minister Javed Rana on Wednesday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government has completed its share of work on the reservation proposal and has sent the file to the Lieutenant Governor for final approval, adding that the administration has ensured a “fair and balanced” approach for every community.
Speaking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Rana said the cabinet carefully reviewed the matter before forwarding it, and made only those changes which fall strictly within the jurisdiction of the elected government.
Rana said some parts of the reservation structure are “completely outside” the UT government’s authority and therefore were not touched. “There are things that fall under our jurisdiction, and there are things that are with the Government of India. We have not touched anything that is outside our jurisdiction,” he said.
The minister added that the cabinet has attempted to create balance across categories. “What we have sent is a 50–50 structure. Every community and every category has been kept accordingly. The government is for everyone, it has to take care of reserved as well as non-reserved sections,” he said.
Explaining specific categories, he said that matters related to OBC, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes do not lie with the UT government. However, some adjustments were possible in certain areas. “Within our jurisdiction, we have made minor changes. For example, EWS, ALC and a few other sub-categories where we could provide some benefit,” he said.
Rana said that the cabinet has already cleared the proposal and the file has now gone to the Lieutenant Governor. “If there is any further benefit to be given, it will be decided at that level,” he said.
When asked whether the matter is now settled at the UT level, Rana said the cabinet has completed its role. “Whatever was required from our side, we have done. The rest will be decided by the Lieutenant Governor,” he added.
He also said that the administration has ensured that no community feels ignored and that the process remains just and transparent.(KNS)
