OBC Comm report too yet to be approved
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: The Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) report on reservation, which was cleared by the Cabinet on December 4, 2025 and had raised hopes among Open merit category candidates is still under consideration before the Competent Authority. Also pending before the Competent Authority is the OBC Commission’s report headed by Justice (Retd) Janak Raj Kotwal which was submitted to the Government in February last year i.e. more than an year ago.
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This information was shared by the Government in the Legislative Assembly today.
In response to a written question of PDP MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, the Government said: “Presently the CSC report on reservation is under consideration before the Competent Authority and its implementation shall follow after approval by the Authority. At present, the existing reservation policy and relevant statutory provisions continue to remain in force.’’
On December 10, 2024, the Cabinet set up the CSC which submitted its report exactly after six months i.e. June 10, 2025. The Cabinet then sought advice of the Law Department and finalized the report accordingly. The Cabinet approved the report on December 4, 2025 and sent it to the Lieutenant Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor forwarded the report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). There have been reports that the Centre is concerned over reduction of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota from 10 percent to 3 percent by the Cabinet without undertaking a study about the EWS population etc.
The Open Merit jobs and seats may go up directly to 40 per cent and 50 per cent in vertical reservation as against present 30, as the Cabinet has approved cuts in reservation in the RBA and EWS categories. There was 3 percent cut in RBA quota which was reduced from 10 to 7.
Reservations including EWS had gone up to 70 per cent in J&K leaving only 30 per cent jobs and seats for Open Merit candidates resulting into strong resentment among them. Currently, the ST-I, ST-II, RBA, and EWS categories each have 10 percent reservation while the Scheduled Castes and OBCs each have 8 percent quota and the ALC/IB category has 4 per cent reservation. Besides, there is 10 per cent horizontal reservation including 6 per cent to Ex-servicemen and four per cent to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
In written reply to another question of BJP MLA Baldev Sharma, the Government further admitted that the report of OBC Commission which has proposed percentage of reservation for the OBCs in Local Body elections is also pending before the Competent Authority.
“The reservation/rotation of Municipal Wards in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) shall be done by the State Election Commission. However, it is pertinent to mention here that the process of reservation/rotation can be initiated only after OBC Commission’s report is approved and notified by the Competent Authority,’’ the Government reply given by the Minister Incharge Elections in the House, read.
The Government didn’t give any categorical reply to the MLA to his question whether it intends to hold Panchayat/Municipal elections in J&K. If so, when, if not, the reasons there for?
The reply said: “The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and for conduct of elections under Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act-2000 and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 is vested in the State Election Commission.
“The Commission is making necessary arrangement for holding Panchayat/Urban Local Bodies Elections at the earliest. Further, the report submitted by the Dedicated Backward Classes Commission is under examination by the Competent Authority and further steps for conduct of Panchayat/ULB elections will be taken accordingly’’.
It may be mentioned here that OBC Commission headed by Justice (Retd) Janak Raj Kotwal was set up by the LG administration before formation of Omar Abdullah Government and it submitted its report to the Government in February 2025 i.e. more than a year back.
The Commission was tasked to recommend percentage in reservation for the OBC in Panchayat, Municipalities, Block Development Councils and District Development Councils. Reservation to OBCs in these elections was given after passing of a bill by the Narendra Modi Government in the Parliament.
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