J&K Students Association demands Caste Census in Jammu and Kashmir

• Calls for transparent review of reservation policy to ensure fairness

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Wednesday demanded an immediate caste census in Jammu and Kashmir to ascertain the exact numbers of each reserved group or community. The Association said that such an exercise is critical for creating a transparent and equitable reservation policy that mirrors the socio-economic realities of the region and ensures justice for all.

National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said, “A caste census is essential to address the long-standing inequalities in Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation framework. Without accurate data on the population and socio-economic conditions of various communities, it is impossible to craft policies that are fair, inclusive, and effective.

A caste census is the only way to rationalize reservation in J&K and accurately determine the numbers in each category." Khuehami emphasized the need to identify the number of backward classes and assess the extent of their socio-economic deprivation. He noted that understanding the depth of inequality faced by various communities is essential for designing policies that genuinely uplift marginalized sections of society. He further stressed the importance of proportional representation in the reservation framework based on the demographic composition revealed by a caste census.

“We are not against reservation,” Khuehami clarified, “but we demand fairness and balance. Counting the exact numbers of each reserved community and assessing their socio-economic status is the first step toward achieving that balance.”The Association also called for an inclusive and participatory review process, involving students, teachers, policymakers, student leaders, community leaders, and other stakeholders. “A transparent approach to revisiting the policy will help build public trust and ensure accountability,” Khuehami added. Khuehami also demanded a temporary moratorium on recruitments until the reservation policy is comprehensively reviewed.

He pointed out that the current system risks perpetuating injustice by limiting opportunities for open merit candidates. “A caste census will provide the data necessary to ensure that no community is overlooked or disproportionately favored,” he said. “Recruitments under the existing framework must be paused until this essential exercise is completed and a fair system is implemented.”Khuehami said that, a caste census and subsequent policy review are not merely administrative tasks but moral imperatives to ensure social justice.“Reservations should uplift marginalized communities without undermining merit-based opportunities,” Khuehami emphasized.

“However, the current system fails to strike this balance due to the lack of accurate demographic data and an understanding of the backwardness faced by different classes.”The Association also reminded Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference’s electoral promise to revisit the reservation policy. It urged the government to honor this commitment by prioritizing a caste census and utilizing its findings to create a more equitable reservation framework.

He asserted that, “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a system that recognizes their aspirations and provides opportunities based on both equity and merit,” Khuehami said. “A fair and balanced reservation policy, rooted in accurate data, will not only uplift marginalized communities but also ensure justice and trust among all sections of society.”The Association’s demand for a caste census is in line with similar initiatives being conducted across several Indian states. These exercises aim to address issues of representation and equity by providing granular data on the socio-economic conditions of various communities.

Association believes that a caste census in Jammu and Kashmir would lay the groundwork for data-driven policymaking that ensures fairness, justice, and inclusivity, he added.He emphasized that, A caste census is essential for achieving evidence-based policymaking, especially in diverse regions like Jammu and Kashmir, where socio-economic disparities can vary significantly across districts and communities.

By mapping these disparities, a caste census could help ensure that policies and resources are directed toward the communities that need them the most.The Association also urged the government to implement the recent Supreme Court judgment on the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), which calls for separating the creamy layer from reservation benefits.

This step is essential to rationalizing the reservation policy and ensuring that the benefits reach the most disadvantaged sections within these communities.By addressing intra-community disparities, the sub-categorization would help uplift those who are genuinely marginalized while promoting equity and fairness in the allocation of opportunities. The Association emphasized that such a move is not about reducing reservations but making them more targeted and effective.