OBCs’ plea to CM

Sir,

This is to draw the attention of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd Sayeed towards the injustice done with the OBCs. The matter was time and again brought in the notice of the Chief Minister, but it received no attention. It is pertinent to mention here that Apex Court of the country in its judgement of 1992 on Mandal Report allotted 27 percent reservation for OBCs. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, the quota was wrongly divided among various sections of the society. On the recommendations of the then Governor K V Krishna Rao, RBA people were given (20 percent), BAC people (3 percent) leaving the remaining portion for OBCs. This was in gross violation of the Supreme Court ruling. Later on, under the directions of Apex Court, a backward class commission was constituted. This was meant to study "to whom reservation was to be given."

As the Commission was without infrastructure, it remained defunct till NC Government took charge of the State in 1997. The NC Government reshaped it and inducted two OBC members in it. The Commission could do nothing substantial except the inclusion of Lohar and Tarkhan in the OBC list, and removal of rural and urban differences, of 'Kumhar, Nais and Dhobis'.

On 17.7.2000, the then Chairman of the Commission tabled a report of his own. This report was not signed by the two members. However, he asked them to submit another report with additions or alternations. This report (2x2) was sent to Government on 2.8.2000 by detaching annexuses (1 to 5). But the State cabinet did not take any decision on that and the report lies pending.

As a result, till date the OBCs are not getting their due share in the State appointments. We, therefore, feel neglected and discriminated.

We, therefore, request your goodself that the Apex Court judgement which provided 27 percent reservations to OBC be implemented in the J&K State as well. It is suggested here RBA, ALC people do not fit in OBC criteria, they can be given benefit under Art 16 (1) as mentioned in para 95 of the Apex Court judgement. Moreover, the cause of OBCs has not been included in the Common Minimum Programme of the coalition Goverment.

We hope that the injustice done with us will not be repeated by your Government. It is expected that healing touch policy will be extended to us as well.

Yours etc.....
Kali Dass
Gen. Secretary
All India Backward, Classes,
Union Jammu.

Review Jammu winter zone exam policy

Sir,

Instead of streamlining and making the education system easy, some painful and hard decisions have been taken by the State Government and these have compounded the students' miseries especially belonging to the Jammu's winter zone areas. The time frame of conducting the annual exams of the school falling in Winter Zone have been changed without any rhyme and reason. The students of these areas are now made to appear for exams along with their summer zone counterparts. That is, just after the long winter vacations they have to face the annual exams. The poor students of hilly and snowy areas virtually became disconnected from their studies during this period. In these far flung and backward areas there is no other provision, except schools, to keep their studies continue and prepare for the fast approaching exams immediately after the biting winters. Resultantly, they cannot do well in the exams and have to suffer for whole of their life.

Since the very first day of the implementation of this faulty policy the people in general, students in particular, have been expressing their great resentment against the wrong and disgustful method. But till date the favourable action is intangible. The ruling elite has not corrected its fault yet. The Government should minutely see and realize the inexplicable difficulties and victimization of the poor student-children of the poor hilly people, and provide them healing touch forthwith. The burning matter should be reviewed at the earliest and the same old pattern be allowed to continue in the general interest of the students community of winter Zone. In Kashmir valley too, the same old winter Zone exam policy is continuing due to the similar climatic constraints like that of Hilly areas of Jammu Province.

Yours etc.....
Swatantra Dev Kotwal Advocate
Udhampur (J&K) .