Srinagar, April 05: A political row has erupted over Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy, with Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo strongly refuting allegations made by Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone. The controversy stems from the affidavit filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Government before the High Court in the case titled Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and others vs UT of J&K and others.
Sajad Lone, while reacting to the affidavit, accused the government of seeking the outright dismissal of the petition challenging the existing reservation policy. He further claimed that the government, in its submission, did not mention the formation of a Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to review the reservation framework.
“This is a legal mystery. Seems the government is not taking its own committee seriously enough to merit a mention in its legal affidavit,” Lone stated in a post on X, calling the government’s stand misleading.
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In response, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo lashed out at Lone, accusing him of misrepresenting facts and misleading the public for political mileage. She told Kashmir News Trust that the affidavit in question does not reflect the government’s final stance on the matter.
“If need arises, the government will file a fresh affidavit in court,” Itoo said. “The current reservation policy is irrational and needs to be reviewed. That’s precisely why the Cabinet Sub-Committee was formed to frame a balanced and rational policy. Why is Sajad Lone impatient? Let him wait for the committee to submit its report instead of misleading people.”
The affidavit filed by the government describes the petition as “an abuse of judicial process” and labels the petitioners’ actions as “motivated by ill will and oblique motives.” It further states that the statutory order in question has not altered the reservation percentage for Scheduled Tribes and dismisses the petition as “frivolous,” seeking its outright dismissal along with imposition of heavy costs.
Minister Sakina Itoo clarified that while the government has challenged the petition’s maintainability, it does not equate to blanket support for the current reservation structure. “We are committed to reforming the policy. This government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, does not endorse the status quo. We want fairness and rationality in reservation,” she said.
Calling Sajad Lone’s criticism baseless, she added, “He is frustrated and trying to politicize a sensitive issue. The affidavit was misrepresented, and the government’s intent is being wrongly projected.” (KNT)
