Gaddi-Sippi students allege discrimination by BOPEE

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 27: Gaddi-Sippi students of J&K who had appeared recently in NEET UG examination, have urged upon the Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha to cancel the provisional merit list of NEET UG of Scheduled Tribe category, issued by BOPEE on November 18, 2020 as great injustice have been metted out the candidates of this category.
In a letter flashed to the Lt Governor, the aggrieved students from this community claimed that as per J&K Reservation Act, 1989, Gaddi and Sippi Tribes along with Gujjar and Bakkerwal and other Tribes were notified as STs. The Govt later issued an SRO-294 of 2004 where under section 13, an arbitrary and discriminatory sub-classification was done on religious lines and an arbitrary/ fictious category STO was created for admission in professional colleges to disadvantage the students from Gaddi and Sippy Tribes and only 1 % reservation was given to them along with other Tribes.
They further stated that there is no such category as STO under any Govt Act and no such certificates are issued by the Govt authority. Interestingly, this arbitrary sub-classification in ST category is only for admission in professional colleges and not for appointment in Govt service. They said as per SO 127 Notification of 20th April, 2020 issued by the Social Welfare Department of J&K Govt and Rule 13 of SRO 294, 10 % reservation is provided to all the STs of J&K UT and no sub-classification can be done with in the ST Category. So, it is clear that all the students deserve fair justice and equal opportunity.
But unfortunately, BOPEE J&K issued notification vide Notice No. 063-BOPEE of 2020 dated 8-11-2020 for online registration of qualified candidates of NEET UG-2020 and as per online information broucher again sub-classification has been inserted which is wrong and discriminatory besides violation of new SRO/ Rules.
They urged upon the Lt Governor to intervene personally and cancel the provisional merit list of the NEET UG of the ST category and provide justice to the Gaddi-Sippi category students.