Government constitutes the Jammu-Kashmir Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission today

 

Keeping in view the issues relating to socially and educationally backward castes and scheduled tribes in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the Government has today constituted a commission which will be called as J&K Socially & Educationally Backward Classes Commission.

 

 

Under the chairmanship of Justice GD Sharma, the commission will be comprised of Shri Rup Lal Bharti, IFS (retired) and Shri Munir Ahmed Khan, IPS as prominent members to examine issues relating to socially and educationally backward classes of the Union Territory.

 

 

In a big move by the State Government, the Reservation policy in the Union Territory was rationalised early this year in January wherein the State Government brought in a major change by announcing reservation to the people of the hill regions, Paharis for the first time. With such a big announcement by the Govt, people from areas like Poonch, Rajouri, Uri, Karnah, Tangdhar got a sigh of relief as the Pahari speaking people here had been demanding reservation for years.

 

 

Under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, G.C Murmu, several amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005 were made thus rationalising the reservation policy on 30th Jan 2020. The government took another major move in the Reservation of Backward Areas i.e. RBA by amending the reservation category to half. With the revised proposal and amendments, the state government distributed the reservation according to the proportion of the population, which was previously very partial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the order issued by the Jammu-Kashmir administration, the members of the Commission will determine the criteria to consider any section of the people in Jammu-Kashmir as socially and educationally backward class. Using the criteria, the commission from time to time will be able to examine the Government notified current list of the classes as well as inclusion of others in the list.

 

 

To ensure balance and orderly development of all sectors and classes of the Union Territory, and provide reservation based on minimum standards for recruitment to various posts under the Government, the commission will categorize the social and educationally backward classes.

 

 

The commission will also be free to present reports and recommendations to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for categorization of the socially and educationally backward classes and providing reservations setting out the facts found by them. The commission will also be responsible to consider or opine on the aforesaid terms of reference.

 

 

 

 

With a view to examine the Constitution(Jammu-Kashmir) SC Order,1956 and ST Order, 1989, the commission will be presenting a report to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for suitable inclusion, exclusion or modification of the Castes and Tribes for their particular applications to the Union Territory.

 

 

The Commission will thus be able to make its final recommendations within a period of two years. However, the first interim report shall be submitted within a period of three months from the date of its constitution or by 30th Jun 2020, whichever is earlier.

 

 

As per the issued order, the terms and Conditions of appointment of the Chairperson and members of the commission shall be notified separately. The Commission shall be served by the Social Welfare Dept.as enclosed by the order of the Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.