Minister admits asset criteria main reason for rejection of EWS certificates in Valley but say no proposal to amend its rules
Srinagar, Oct 31: In yet another revelation indicating gross regional disparity in reservation, the Jammu & Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that Jammu region accounted for 71.8 % percent category certificates issued under different categories in 2025 and remaining 28. 2 percent quota certificates were issued in Kashmir.
In a written reply to question of MLA Handwara and Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), minister in-charge Social Welfare Sakina Ittoo revealed that 215863 certificates under Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBC), Actual Line of Control, and International Border were issued from January 01, 2025 to September 30, 2025.
In this period, the minister revealed that 32671 applications for issuance of category certificates were rejected in J&K.
Of which 25354 applications were rejected in Jammu and 7317 in Kashmir, the minister added.
The minister admitted that asset criteria is the main reason for rejection of issuance of certificates in Kashmir Valley but added that no proposal is under consideration to relax/ amend rules governing it.
“ As regards relaxation/amendment of the relevant provisions, it is submitted that no such proposal is under consideration at present,” the minister said.
According to the asset criteria set by the government, a family seeking an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) agricultural land over five acres, a residential flat exceeding 1000 sq ft, or residential plots larger than 100 sq yards in municipalities and 200 sq yards in non-notified areas—(KNO)
