NEW DELHI: On Friday, the Rajya Sabha approved three bills concerning Jammu and Kashmir. One of the bills, which aims to align local body regulations in the Union territory with the Constitution, grants reservation to other backward classes. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were approved by the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha has approved the three legislation. Nityanand Rai, the minister of state for home, responded to the discussion surrounding the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda responded to the bill pertaining to the Scheduled Tribes Order, and Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar addressed the debate on the Scheduled Castes Order bill. According to Munda, the three legislation introduced following the repeal of Article 370 were intended to provide the people of Jammu and Kashmir with justice. He said that “political reservation for the first time” would be granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The goal of the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies rules (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is to align the Union territory’s local body rules with the requirements of the Constitution and grant reservation to Other Backward Classes in panchayats and municipalities within the state.The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act of 2000, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act of 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 are all intended to be amended. According to officials, the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act’s provisions regarding the state election commissioner “are at variance” with the Constitution. As a synonym for Chura, Bhangi, Balmiki, and Mehtar, they asserted that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has suggested adding the Valmiki community to the list of Scheduled Castes of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir at serial number 5. The “Valmiki” addition to the Schedule of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order, 1956 is proposed by the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The officials stated that the “Pahari Ethnic Group,” “Koli,” “Paddari Tribe,” and “Gadda Brahmin” populations have all petitioned to be added to the list of Scheduled Tribes by the Jammu and Kashmir administration. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 suggests making changes to the 1989 Scheduled Tribes Order in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
