Job benefits for 15 new groups as J&K redraws social caste list

In a significant move, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has expanded the list of social castes by including 15 new classes.

In a notice, the Jammu and Kashmir government has included 15 more classes in its list of social caste categories.

Under the Jammu and Kashmir Government's reservation rules, social castes have a four per cent reservation in government posts.

The 2004 law establishes reservations for members of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes in government posts and admissions to professional institutions in the Union territory.

The notice, which came on the instructions of J&K Deputy Governor Manoj Sinha, read: “In exercise of the powers conferred by the first condition of clause (o) of Section 2 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reserves Act, 2004, and upon the recommendations of the Jammu and Kashmir Social and Educational Backward Classes Commission, the Deputy Governor of Jammu and Kashmir hereby orders that the following amendments be made to the Jammu and Kashmir Reserve Rules 2005.”

Full list of classes

• Waghey (Chopan)
• Ghirath/Bhati/Chang
• Jat
• Saini
• Markabans/Pony Walas
• Sochi
• Christian Biradari (converted from Hindu Valmiki)
• Sunar/Swarankar
• Teeli (Hindu Teeli along with already existing Muslim Teli)
• Perna/Kouro (Kaurav)
• Bojru/Decount/Dubdabay Brahmin Gorkans
• Gorkhas
• West Pakistani refugees (excluding SCs)
• Acharyasa

The other change made to the 2005 Jammu and Kashmir Booking Rules is the replacement of the words "Pahari-speaking people" with "Pahari ethnic people," the notice added.

Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his three-day visit to J&K, made an announcement to provide reserve benefits to UT Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals.

Rohit Chouhdary, a farmer from the RS Pura sector of Jammu, said: “We are among the 15 classes that are added to the list of social castes. There are already celebrations in the community, but we are waiting for more clarity.”

He added: “Some community leaders say we are given OBC (Other Backward Classes) status, while others say we would be entitled to a 4% set aside on jobs and career colleges.”

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