Indian President Droupadi Murmu has on June 3 promulgated the ordinance to amend the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Reservation Act, in order to implement 85 per cent reservation in Ladakh, excluding the 10 per cent for economically weaker sections (EWS), the Law Ministry has notified on June 2.
This comes after the Home Ministry amended the J&K Reservation Act, 2004 in its application to the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh.
What does President Murmu's promulgation state?
The Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation 2025, has been specifically extended to Ladakh UT. It states: “provided that the total percentage of reservation shall in no case exceed 85 per cent, excluding reservation for Economically Weaker Sections.”
The ordinance also amends other provisions of the 2005 Act, including parts on vacancies to be carried forward, reservation in promotions, and reservation in professional institutions. For all these, it specifies that the reservations shall not exceed 85 per cent, excluding 10 per cent reservations for EWS.
According to local publication, Greater Kashmir, reservation breakup includes provisions for 80 per cent reserved for Scheduled Tribes, 4 percent for residents living near the Line of Control (LoC), and 1 per cent for Scheduled Castes.
Background: J&K Reservation Act
According to PRS Legislative Research, the J&K Reservation Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in July 2023. It amends the J&K Reservation Act, 2004, which provides reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and other socially and educationally backward classes (OBCs).
The GK report noted that in case of the J&K provision, if during recruitment, a sufficient number of candidates for particular categories are unavailable, the posts shall be unfilled and carried forward to the next recruitment process. The vacancies shall only be de-reserved if they remain vacant for more than three years.
The Ministry notification, notes that these shall be applicable for posts in the UT, either under local or other authorities (except cantonment Board).
