Government data tabled in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has ignited a fierce debate over regional inequities in the issuance of social category certificates, revealing a pronounced imbalance favoring the Jammu region over the Kashmir Valley in the past two years. PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra has sharply criticized the figures, labeling them as evidence of systemic bias that undermines the principles of equity and administrative fairness in the union territory's welfare system.

The data, presented in response to Parra's query seeking district-wise breakdowns for categories including Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Residents of Backward Areas (RBA), Actual Line of Control (ALC), and others, paints a stark picture of disparity. In total, 70,268 SC certificates were issued across J&K, with an overwhelming 69,794 (99.3%) allocated in Jammu and only 474 (0.7%) in the Valley. Similarly, for ST certificates totaling 602,434, Jammu received 525,778 (87.3%), while the Valley got 76,656 (12.7%). OBC issuances stood at 76,664 overall, split as 43,438 (56.7%) in Jammu and 33,226 (43.3%) in Kashmir.

The trend persists across other categories: Of 21,386 EWS certificates, 18,945 (88.6%) went to Jammu and just 2,441 (11.4%) to the Valley. In a reversal, RBA certificates numbered 47,399, with 31,804 (67.1%) issued in Kashmir and 15,595 (32.9%) in Jammu, reflecting the category's focus on backward areas more prevalent in the Valley. ALC certificates totaled 3,280, predominantly in Jammu at 2,796 (85.2%) versus 484 (14.8%) in Kashmir. Notably, all 324 "other category" certificates were exclusively issued in the Jammu region, further amplifying perceptions of uneven distribution.

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Parra, in a pointed post on X, highlighted the percentages to underscore the "sharp regional divide": SC (Jammu 99.3%, Kashmir 0.7%); ST (Jammu 87.3%, Kashmir 12.7%); OBC (Jammu 56.7%, Kashmir 43.3%); EWS (Jammu 88.6%, Kashmir 11.4%); RBA (Jammu 32.9%, Kashmir 67.1%); ALC (Jammu 85.2%, Kashmir 14.8%). He described the statistics as "laying bare a stark regional disparity in the distribution of social category certificates, exposing a grave breach of fairness, equality, merit, and administrative impartiality at the very core of J&K’s welfare framework."

The PDP MLA renewed calls for urgent reforms, stating, “This is precisely why we have been advocating for the rationalization of the reservation policy, strictly in proportion to the population.” As the assembly session continues, the revelation has sparked broader discussions on reservation policies post the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, with opposition voices demanding a comprehensive review to address demographic realities and ensure equitable access to affirmative action benefits across regions.

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