Despite the month long protests by the Gujjar and Bakerwal community against any change to the existing ST status, the Jammu Kashmir administration has granted a six-month extension for the Commission led by retired Justice G.D. Sharma, formed in March 2020, to review reservation policies for various groups.
The term of the commission expired on 18 September 2023, however, the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 26, 2023. It amends the Jammu Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 that provides for reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes.
The Bill has not been passed as of yet, in fact, the commission sought a extension to examine the issue of Reserved Backward Area (RBA) reservations. In both Kashmir and Jammu, approximately 1200 villages fall under the RBA category and are entitled to reservations.
Specifically, “The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023” advocates for the inclusion of the Pahari community, Paddaris, Gadda Braman, and Koli tribes in the ST list.
Meanwhile, the “Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023” seeks to include the Valmiki community in the Scheduled Castes category.
Lastly, the “Jammu Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023” aims to rename the Social Caste category as OBC.
The committee has already submitted recommendations for the inclusion of new tribes and classes in the scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, and social castes (weaker and underprivileged classes) lists.