IIOJK High Court to Hear Petitions on Controversial Amendments to Reservation Rules

The fate of controversial amendments to the IIOJK Reservation Rules will be decided in a critical High Court hearing, as petitioners argue the changes undermine the region’s social justice framework.

The Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK) High Court is set to hear petitions challenging recent amendments to the IIOJK Reservation Rules on March 7, 2025. The case will be presented before a division bench comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Puneet Gupta. The petitioners have raised serious concerns about the amendments, which they argue fundamentally alter the balance of reserved and open merit seats in government recruitment and educational institutions across the region.

At the heart of the petition is the argument that the recent amendments to the IIOJK Reservation Rules of 2005 have resulted in significant reductions in the number of open merit seats. The changes reduce the percentage of open merit seats from 57 percent to 33 percent, which petitioners argue will have far-reaching implications for fair access to government jobs and educational opportunities. Additionally, the amendments also decrease the allocation for Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) from 20 percent to 10 percent.

Several groups aggrieved by these amendments have come together to challenge the legality of these changes. They argue that the amendments disproportionately affect various sections of society and that such a reduction in reserved and open merit seats violates the principles of social justice. The petitioners have called for the High Court to declare certain provisions of the amended IIOJK Reservation Rules, 2005, as ultra vires (unconstitutional) and in violation of the Constitution of India.

The legal challenge has sparked debates over the fairness of these amendments, with many questioning their potential impact on the socio-economic fabric of IIOJK. The petitioners believe that these changes disproportionately favor certain groups while undermining opportunities for others, thus affecting the region’s demographic balance.

As the case is scheduled to appear before the High Court, all eyes will be on the outcome of this crucial hearing. A ruling in favor of the petitioners could lead to significant changes in the amended reservation rules, potentially restoring the previous allocation percentages or introducing new modifications. Conversely, a ruling upholding the amendments could solidify the changes, leaving little recourse for those challenging the system.

This hearing comes at a time when the region is already dealing with heightened tensions and complexities surrounding its governance and political status. The outcome of the case could set a major precedent for future legal battles concerning reservation policies in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).