SRINAGAR : The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly once again started on a noisy note with members from Backward community, cutting across party lines, demanding restoration of reservation in promotions for the reserved classes.
However, the government once again reiterated that the matter can’t be debated as it is sub-judice.
As soon as Speaker Kavinder Gupta entered the House, all members, including from ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition Congress and National Conference (NC), belonging to the Backward Class, were on their feet, demanding that the government amend the Constitution and allow reservation in promotions for the Backward Classes.
Raising slogans ‘Reservation ko bahal karoo’, Jo Hum Sai Takra Ya Ga Chakna Choor Ho Jayaga’, ‘Reservation category Ko Insaf Do’ and ‘Aawaz do hum aak hai’, the members continued their protest, though the Speaker repeatedly asked them to resume their seats and allow Question Hour.
Though only members from Congress and PDP stormed into the well of the House, while as BJP and NC MLAs continued standing near their seats.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan, however, said that since the matter was sub-judice, no debate on the issue could be held in the House. “Government is committed to providing reservation in promotion to reserved categories, but the matter is sub-judice so we can’t debate it on the floor o the House,” he said.
Later, Congress members Nawang Rigzin Jora, Asgar Ali Karbalaie and Choudhary Mohammad Akram staged a walkout from the Assembly. The Members from backward community have been staging similar protests in the House from last couple of days, demanding restoration of reservation in promotions for the reserved classes.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on October 10, 2015 had struck down the state government’s policy of reservation in promotions, on the basis of which several officials of different departments were promoted since 2005.
In an order that will impact many, the Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justices Hasnain Massodi and Janak Raj Kotwal, in a bunch of petitions, held that there shall be no benefit of reservation in promotions in the state of J&K and struck down Section 6 Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act 2004, and Rules 9, 10 and 34 Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules 2005 as ultra vires.
The state government later challenged the decision of the HC Division Bench in the Supreme Court (SC), where the matter is being heard. (AGENCIES)
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