In a region with expansive reservations, the tax-paying middle class is left without safety nets. Targeted relief is needed to restore balance and social stability.
Suhail Gaznavi
In Jammu and Kashmir, the middle class remains one of the most burdened yet least acknowledged sections of society. Neither historically privileged nor officially protected, this segment forms the backbone of the economy—earning honestly, paying taxes, and investing heavily in education and healthcare. Yet in public policy discourse, it continues to remain largely invisible.
Jammu and Kashmir follows an expansive reservation framework governed primarily by the J&K Reservation Act, 2004, along with subsequent amendments and rules. Reservations extend to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC/OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Residents of Backward Areas (RBA), Areas Adjoining the Actual Line of Control (ALC), International Border (IB), and other special categories. Over time, the cumulative expansion of these categories has significantly reduced the share of open-merit seats in public employment and education.
Reservation is constitutionally sanctioned under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution of India for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, and under Articles 15(6) and 16(6) for Economically Weaker Sections. It remains an essential instrument of social justice and affirmative action.
At the same time, the constitutional vision of equality does not envisage the upliftment of one section at the cost of the exclusion or marginalisation of another. Reservation was conceived as a tool for empowering the downtrodden and historically disadvantaged—not as a mechanism to permanently shrink opportunities for other sections of society. Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees equality before law and equal protection of laws, while Articles 15 and 16 aim at inclusive equality, not selective advancement. True equality lies in the balanced upliftment of all segments of society, ensuring that social justice and merit coexist rather than conflict. Constitutional courts have consistently held that affirmative action must be reasonable, proportionate, and periodically reviewed to prevent reverse discrimination and preserve social harmony.
However, the present implementation in J&K has increasingly narrowed opportunities for open-merit candidates—predominantly from middle-class families—who neither qualify for reservation benefits nor possess substantial economic resources. For many, academic excellence and competitive success no longer translate into proportionate opportunity.
The economic pressures faced by middle-class families in J&K are persistent and intense. Rising electricity tariffs, fuel prices, inflation, healthcare costs, and private education expenses have steadily eroded household stability. Despite contributing substantially through direct and indirect taxation, the middle class remains ineligible for most subsidies, ration benefits, housing schemes, or free healthcare facilities. Every medical emergency, educational aspiration, or period of unemployment is managed privately—often through depleted savings or debt.
The impact is particularly visible among educated youth. Despite professional degrees and qualifications, government recruitment remains limited, delayed, or increasingly contractual in nature. Even when employment is secured, it frequently lacks job security, adequate remuneration, and long-term prospects. Parents invest their lifetime savings in education with the hope that merit will ensure stability, only to encounter a system where effort appears disconnected from reward.
This sense of exclusion is further heightened by the visible privileges enjoyed by political executives and senior bureaucrats—high salaries, pensions, official residences, and post-retirement benefits—funded by the same taxpayers who struggle to secure basic economic dignity. Such disparities contribute to a growing perception of imbalance and unfairness.
It is important to clarify that this discussion is not an argument against the reservation itself. Social justice for historically marginalised communities is a constitutional obligation and must continue. However, constitutional morality demands that affirmative policies evolve with time, data, and ground realities, so that no section feels permanently excluded from the promise of equal opportunity.
In a region like Jammu and Kashmir, where social resilience is shaped by economic uncertainty, sustained attention to the concerns of the middle class can play a constructive role. Recognising and supporting this segment may help strengthen public confidence, institutional trust, and overall social stability.
The time has come for meaningful policy intervention. Targeted tax relief for middle-income households, affordable and accessible public healthcare, subsidies on essential services such as electricity and fuel, education-linked incentives, and employment-oriented reforms can provide much-needed relief. Such measures would not dilute social justice; rather, they would restore balance and credibility to governance.
Strengthening the middle class is not an act of charity—it is an investment in economic stability and social cohesion. A secure and confident middle class drives productivity, supports institutions, and sustains democratic values.
A strong middle class is indispensable for long-term growth, democratic resilience, and social harmony. Recognising and supporting this silent contributor is no longer optional—it is a constitutional and policy imperative.
The writer is an advocate at the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
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