Protesters Demand Halt to J&K Government Recruitments Over Open Merit Shrinkage
Aspirants rally against low open merit seats.
Protesters in Jammu and Kashmir are intensifying demands for an immediate halt to all government recruitments until the reservation policy is revised, citing severe shrinkage of opportunities for Open Merit candidates. Demonstrations highlight recent job advertisements where OM quota falls below 40 percent, prompting accusations of systematic marginalization of merit-based selections.
Specific examples underscore the discontent: only two out of ten Assistant Professor posts at Government Medical Colleges in Anantnag and Baramulla are allocated to OM, with the remainder reserved. Similarly, of 502 Constable (Telecommunication) positions advertised by the J&K Service Selection Board, just 201 are open, while 301 are reserved; for 480 Medical Officer posts via the Public Service Commission, merely 192 remain for OM aspirants.
Student representatives, including Mir Mujeeb and Sahil Parray, argue that the current framework exceeds affirmative action, effectively sidelining merit. Former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu criticized the accelerated recruitment pace, warning that ongoing hires perpetuate an unbalanced policy, leaving little scope for meaningful rationalization once approvals are granted.
Also Read: Police Launch Inquiry Over Palestinian Flag Displayed on Helmet at Jammu Match
The existing reservation structure, implemented prior to the 2024 Assembly elections, allocates over 60 percent to categories: Scheduled Castes (8%), Scheduled Tribes (20%), Economically Weaker Sections (10%), Residents of Backward Areas (10%), Other Backward Classes (8%), and Actual Line of Control/International Border residents (4%), plus horizontal reservations for ex-servicemen and persons with disabilities, compressing OM share to 30-40 percent.
Despite a Cabinet proposal to rationalize quotas awaiting Lieutenant Governor approval, large-scale recruitments continue unabated. J&K Students Association convenor Nasir Khuehami emphasized the urgency for suspension of hiring processes, as prolonged delays exacerbate frustrations among youth oscillating between protests and unresolved grievances.
Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir Bans VPN Use in Several Districts Over Security Concerns
