Four bills on J-K quota, electoral reservation introduced in Parliament

SRINAGAR — The Government of India on Wednesday introduced four bills in Parliament on quota and electoral reservation in Jammu & Kashmir.

As per details available with the news agency KNO, Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai introduced a bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004. The bill seeks to rechristen “Other Social Castes” as “Other Backward Classes” in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 was enacted by the legislature of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. The bill was brought in the Parliament as the legislature of Jammu & Kashmir is currently not in existence. The powers of J&K Legislative Assembly are presently vested with the Parliament.

After tabling the bill, Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai introduced another bill to amend “The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act”. The bill seeks reservation of three seats – two for Kashmiri migrants and one for displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir – in the Legislative Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir.

National Conference MP Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi opposed the introduction of the bill, citing a legal challenge to The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act in the Supreme Court.

According to details, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda introduced a bill to amend the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1989. The bill seeks the inclusion of Paharis, Paddaris, Gadda Braman and Koli tribes.

Union Minister for Social Justice, Dr Virendra Kumar introduced The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks inclusion of the Valmiki community in the list of Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir.