In significant decision, Centre approves ordinances extending reservation benefits to all J&K people; move delivers sharp rebuke anti-mainstreaming elements

In a big decision, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a pair of ordinances regarding the state of Jammu and Kashmir pertaining to reservation and related issues - specifically, extending the benefits of quotas in jobs and education that are applicable to every Indian citizen outside J&K to every citizen within the state as well. The ordinances were announced in a briefing by union ministers Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad, and are a particularly big blow to those forces who for years have fearmongered over the state's complete integration with India.

The first ordinance announced was the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, with the relevant press release stating:

Once the Ordinance is issued, it would pave the way for bringing persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of Reservation at par with persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of Reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control.

The second ordinance is the Constitutional (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019, with the relevant press release stating:

Once notified, this will pave the way for giving benefit of promotion in service to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and also extend the reservation of up to 10% for "economically weaker sections" in educational institutions and public employment in addition to the existing reservation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Just a matter of weeks ago, in a massive caste- and religion-agnostic decision, Parliament had passed a Constitutional Amendment bill extending the extant reservation in jobs and education from 50% to 60%, with the increased 10% applicable to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). With the ordinances approved on Thursday, people in all corners of Jammu and Kashmir will now be able to avail the benefit from this move.