Srinagar: The Revenue Department of Jammu and Kashmir has revealed a significant regional imbalance in the issuance of social category certificates over the last two years, exposing a deep divide between the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
The data, shared in the Legislative Assembly in response to a question raised by PDP legislator Waheed Para, shows a striking disparity in how Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Reserved Backward Area (RBA), and Actual Line of Control (ALC) certificates were distributed.
According to official figures, Jammu accounted for 99.2 percent of SC certificates, while Kashmir registered just 0.67 percent. Similarly, 87.2 percent of ST and 88.5 percent of EWS certificates were issued in Jammu compared to 12.7 and 11.4 percent respectively in Kashmir. In contrast, Kashmir accounted for a higher share of RBA certificates at 67.1 percent, against Jammu’s 32.9 percent.
The data further indicates that 85.2 percent of ALC certificates were granted in Jammu, with Kashmir receiving only 14.7 percent, while OBC certificates were somewhat more evenly distributed — 56.6 percent in Jammu and 43.4 percent in Kashmir.
Waheed Para said the figures highlight a serious structural imbalance in the distribution of welfare entitlements and raise questions about fairness and administrative impartiality within Jammu and Kashmir’s governance framework. He reiterated the need to rationalize the reservation policy strictly in proportion to population representation.
“The numbers clearly show a breach of equity and merit. We have been calling for proportional and transparent implementation of the reservation framework to ensure no region or community is left disadvantaged,” Para said. [KNT]
