SC/ST & OBC bodies criticize Govt response in reservation case

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 13: Heads of various organizations of SC/ST and OBC communities of J&K, have strongly criticized the State Government’s luke warm response in defending their position on the issue of reservation in promotion.
“Reservation in promotion, as per scores of Supreme Court judgements,  is a constitutional right of people belonging to SC/ST and OBCs in both the State and Central services, said a joint statement, issued by  Piran Ditta (president of All J&K Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha), Mohinder Kumar Bhagat (State president of All J&K Bhagat Mahasabha), Ajab Singh Mottan (State president of Batwal Sudhar Sabha), Pritam Chand (president of Saryara Sabha),  Banarsi Dass (president of All J&K Leather Workers Union), Kamla Choudhary of Jat Kalyan Sabha, Dr Gafoor Ahmed (president Gujjar Front),  Bodh Raj Bhagat of All India  Bhagat Mahasabha, Bodh Raj Rao of Mahasha Sadar Sabha, Biru Ram of Barwala Sabha and Shashi Verma of Vishwakarma Sabha.
Lamenting  that the State  High Court judgement against reservation in promotions was going to affect 18 percent SC/ST employee, who shall be loosing the opportunity to rise up to the higher posts in various department, they alleged a deep rooted conspiracy to deprive SC/ST and OBC from their constitutional rights of reservation. The case in this regard was being pleaded in the Double Bench of HC for the last one year or so but the Government did give necessary direction to the Advocate General to plead justification of reservation in promotions under SRO-294, they added.
These organizations appealed the Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed to intervene into this very sensitive issue and direct the Chief Secretary as well as all Departmental head not to implement this judgement. Government should also convene a special Assembly session and adopt 77th, 81st and 85th Amendments of the Indian Constitution,  the handout added.