Cabinet discusses amending law to boost quota for STs to 85% in government jobs in Ladakh | India News

NEW DELHI: Cabinet on Wednesday took up for discussion to amend the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Act, in respect of Ladakh to increase reservation of Scheduled Tribes (STs) to 85 per cent in government jobs in the UT. The other proposals included 33 per cent reservation for women in Hill Development Councils, quota for people living near line of actual control (LAC) in jobs and professional educational institutions, sources said.
Another proposal of Promulgation of the UT of Ladakh Official Languages Regulation 2025 was also taken up, which proposes to include Bhoti and Urdu as official languages of Leh region.
Sources told TOI that the govt is looking at all aspects to ensure that the reservation in jobs benefits bonafide persons and that the conditions being considered include at least seven years’ domicile in the UT and minimum education till class 10 or class 12. Sources said that the provision of 85% reservation for STs in govt jobs in the UT is being considered since the community’s share in total population is around 80%.
Last December, at a meeting of a high-powered committee set up by the home ministry for the development of Ladakh, the regional representatives and Centre had agreed to 95% job quota for Ladakhi people in govt jobs in the UT, one-third reservation for women in hill councils, and inclusion of Urdu and Bhoti as the official languages of Ladakh.
Representatives from Ladakh had also demanded a separate public service commission from the home ministry.
Sources said the govt is eyeing at bringing proposals to amend the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act of 1997, the J&K Reservation Act, 2004 in respect of UT of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment Act.