SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association Wednesday strongly criticized the Jammu and Kashmir government for its “lack of clarity and transparency” regarding the contentious reservation policy.
“Following a meeting between a five-member delegation of the students and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the latter assured that a cabinet sub-committee would submit its review report within six months. However, the association has termed this assurance insufficient and lacking immediate impact,” the JKSA said in a statement issued here.
National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said, “Even after two days have passed since the meeting with the Chief Minister, there have been no minutes of the meeting nor any official statement from the government regarding the commitments made during the discussion. This absence of communication reflects the government’s lack of clarity and seriousness on such a critical issue. We have discussed the issue with various groups of students and stakeholders. They have expressed complete dissatisfaction with the government, saying they are not serious about addressing their concerns.”
The association has demanded that the government should release an official statement outlining the Chief Minister’s commitments, particularly the assurance that the reservation issue would be resolved within six months. “Students deserve transparency. The government must officially clarify its position and ensure accountability for the promises made during the meeting,” it added.
He emphasized, “There will be no talks or deliberations with the government until the sub-committee is streamlined. We want the committee to be streamlined, inclusive, similar to Parliament’s Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPC), which include members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as well as representatives from the government and the opposition. The current sub-committee’s composition is deeply flawed, as two of its members belong to the reserved category. How can open merit students expect justice from a committee that is inherently biased towards one side?”
He further added, “If the government is genuinely serious about resolving this issue, they must ensure that the process is fair, streamlined, and inclusive. The sub-committee must represent all stakeholders, including students, aspirants, retired Judge and independent voices, to instill confidence in its ability to deliver fair and just recommendations.”
The association also reiterated its demand for an immediate halt to all ongoing recruitments under the disputed policy until the review is completed. It insisted that the review process should be expedited and concluded within three months, as six months is too long to wait for a resolution.
The JKSA said that continued delays, ambiguity, and lack of transparency could lead to further distress among students and the larger public. “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir demand decisive action, not hollow promises. The government must act now, it added.