Govt asks Notified Authorities to issue Income, Asset Certificates

Reservation to EWSs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 5: The Union Territory Government today impressed upon the Notified Authorities to issue ‘Income and Asset Certificates’ as per the detailed guidelines in favour of candidates belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) category excluding Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes under Central List as applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.
An official order issued today by the General Administration Department (GAD) said it has been brought to the notice of the Government that the Notified Authorities are not issuing the EWS certificates in favour of candidates belonging to such reserved categories which are specific to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for availing the benefit under the Central Government.
“These categories are not covered under the reservation rules which are applicable at the Central level and, therefore, such candidates are eligible for claiming the benefit of reservation under EWS category for availing the benefits under and at the Central Government level subject to fulfillment of other requisite conditions,’’ the GAD order said.
It added that the Income and Asset Certificate in favour of the candidates belonging to the EWSs category excluding Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes under the Central List as applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be issued in prescribed format for applying to the jobs in the Central Government and admission to educational institutions in the Government of India.
“The Income and Asset Certificate in favour of candidates belonging to EWSs category excluding Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes viz RBA/ALC/IB/OSC/PSP shall be issued in another prescribed format and terms of Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules for applying to the jobs in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and admission to educational institutions of the J&K Government,’’ the order said.
The Government order clarified that persons who are covered under the existing scheme of reservation at the Central level including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Central list as applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir) are not entitled for claiming the benefit under Economically Weaker Sections category.
“At the level of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir reserved categories falling under category of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes are not entitled for claiming the benefit under EWSs category,’’ as per the Government order.
It made it clear that for availing the benefit, the candidates belonging to Economically Weaker Sections need to possess Income and Asset Certificates issued by the Competent Authority.
In pursuance of Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019, reservation for EWSs is available in jobs and admission to educational institutions in the Government of India.
Similarly, in terms of SRO 518 of 2019, 10 per cent reservation is available to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir belonging to the EWSs category for applying to the Government jobs and admission in educational institutions of J&K.