14.17 lakh reservation certificates issued in Jammu, 3.45 lakh in valley
PDP MLA raises concern over stark regional disparity in official figures
Srinagar: A stark regional disparity in the issuance of reservation certificates in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has raised questions over the functioning of the Revenue Department, with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para seeking transparency and a detailed explanation for the figures.
Para, MLA from Pulwama, questioned data provided by the Revenue Department before the IIOJK Legislative Assembly, showing that 1,417,028 reservation certificates were issued in Hindu majority Jammu region since 2018, accounting for 80.4 percent of the total, compared with 345,918 certificates, or 19.6 percent, in Muslim majority Kashmir region. The overall figure stood at 1,763,946 certificates.
The district-wise figures also show substantial variations. Jammu district accounted for 198,910 certificates against 4,466 in Srinagar, while Rajouri recorded 437,479 and Poonch 324,753. Other Jammu division figures included Kathua 117,315, Udhampur 83,616, Doda 62,776, Reasi 53,023 and Samba 58,583.
In Kashmir valley, the figures included 80,289 in Kupwara, 73,379 in Baramulla, 52,086 in Islamabad, 26,760 in Kulgam, 22,325 in Bandipora, 20,556 in Ganderbal, 19,614 in Pulwama and 18,476 in Shopian.
Para said the figures represented official data supplied by the Revenue Department in response to his question. He said, “Such a wide regional disparity in the issuance of reservation certificates demands transparency and a detailed explanation.”
The disparity has drawn attention to the need for greater scrutiny of the criteria, categories and administrative processes governing the issuance of reservation certificates across the two regions, particularly as the figures cover an eight-year period since 2018.
The issue comes amid continuing political debate in IIOJK over regional disparities, representation and access to government benefits, with lawmakers demanding greater transparency in the functioning of the Delhi-controlled administration.
Reservation certificate establishes that a person belongs to a category entitled to reservation/quota benefits under the reservation system—for example, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or other specified reserved categories. It is used to claim benefits such as reserved seats in education or recruitment.
