Parliament Clears Bills To Modify List Of SCs, STs For Jammu & Kashmir

Paving way for addition of new communities to the list of Scheduled Castes (SCs) & Scheduled Tribes (STs) for Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, the Parliament today (February 9) cleared the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

While the SC Order Bill adds Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Balmiki, Bhangi, and Mehtar communities in the list of SCs for J&K, the ST Order Bill proposes to add four communities ie Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group to the list of STs for the UT. The latter Bill claims that reservations for existing communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals will remain unaffected while providing reservation to the newly included STs.

It is worthwhile to mention that Justice (Retd) GD Sharma Commission (setup in 2019) had recommended ST status for Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group.

First introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, the SC Order Bill looks at amending the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order, 1956.

The ST Order Bill, on the other hand, moved by Union Minister of Tribal Affairs & Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, is to amend the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1989.

The two Bills were passed by the Lok Sabha earlier this week on Tuesday, amid protests by the Gujjar-Bakarwal community. Taken up for voting and passing in the Rajya Sabha today, they now stand cleared by the Upper House as well.