SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday declined to disclose details of Cabinet recommendations on reservation or queries raised by the Union Government, citing provisions governing confidential matters under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Legislative Assembly.
In a written reply to a question raised by Handwara MLA Sajjad Gani Lone, the Minister-in-charge, Social Welfare, said the Cabinet recommendations had already been submitted to the competent authority but could not be disclosed in the House, according to the news agency KNO.
“The recommendations have been submitted to the competent authority. However, in terms of Business Rule 38 of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, particularly clause (xxi), the present information sought by the Hon’ble Member being secret in nature, relating to the decision and proceedings of the Cabinet, cannot be provided,” the reply stated.
Asked separately about queries raised by the Centre on the reservation report, the government reiterated the same position, invoking Rule 38, clause (xxi), which restricts questions seeking information on matters considered secret, including Cabinet decisions, proceedings and certain advice where disclosure is barred.
The government’s response comes after a Cabinet Sub-Committee examined the existing reservation structure and submitted its recommendations.
In a separate Assembly reply last week, the government said the recommendations had been approved by the Council of Ministers and forwarded to the competent authority for consideration.
No proposal to relax EWS criteria
The government also informed the Assembly that there was currently no proposal to relax the eligibility criteria for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, including the prescribed asset-based conditions.
The position was conveyed in response to questions concerning the existing reservation framework and the possibility of changes to EWS eligibility.
The Social Welfare Department has said EWS eligibility is governed by the J&K Reservation Rules read with SRO 518 of 2019, and that the existing income and asset conditions continue to apply.
The department has also clarified that possession of a Priority Household (PHH) ration card by itself does not replace the prescribed income and asset criteria for determining EWS eligibility.
Proportional representation linked to Census data
On whether the government intended to provide proportionate representation among reservation categories, including Open Merit, based on population figures after publication of the 2027 Census data, the minister said the issue would be examined in accordance with applicable legal provisions.
“The issue shall be considered as and when the publication of Census-2027 data becomes available to the Government,” the reply stated.
The government has therefore not disclosed the contents of the reservation recommendations or the Centre’s queries, while indicating that changes to EWS criteria are not currently under consideration and that any examination of representation based on population data will take place after the relevant Census data becomes available.
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