Speaker rejects Sajad Lone’s adjournment motion on reservation policy

Srinagar, Oct 27: Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Monday rejected an adjournment motion moved by People’s Conference (PC) President, Sajad Gani Lone in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, seeking a special discussion on what he termed the government’s “failure to rationalise the reservation policy.”

As soon as the Question Hour concluded, Lone rose to press for suspension of the day’s business under Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business to allow an immediate discussion on the issue.

The motion, submitted earlier to the Assembly Secretariat, sought to deliberate on the “continued failure to address and rationalise the discriminatory and biased reservation framework presently in force in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Lone argued that the existing reservation policy had severely restricted the competitive space for Kashmiri youth in public employment, promotions, and professional education.

He pointed out that in December last year, the government had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to review grievances regarding the revised reservation framework, but the panel’s report had neither been made public nor implemented even after 10 months.

“This policy is a post-dated cheque for disaster,” Lone said, addressing the House, urging the Speaker to allow a discussion on what he called a matter of “urgent public importance.”

He said the issue had created widespread anxiety and discontent among young aspirants, calling it one of the most pressing matters facing the people of J&K.

However, Speaker Rather disallowed the motion, ruling that it did not qualify under Assembly rules.

“I have rejected it. The matter should be of recent occurrence and not one already discussed,” the Speaker said, adding that Lone had raised the same issue during the last budget session.

The Speaker said that since the matter was currently sub judice, it cannot be taken up for debate on the floor of the House.

“This adjournment motion is rejected,” he ruled.

Explaining the procedural position, the Speaker said that an adjournment motion could only be moved for a matter of immediate and urgent public importance that had occurred recently.

“This issue has already been deliberated in the House, and the government has taken cognisance of it by forming a committee,” he said.

However, Lone expressed disappointment over the ruling, arguing that the matter concerned thousands of aspirants who feel disadvantaged under the existing reservation regime.