Rajya Sabha on Monday approved two important bills related to Jammu and Kashmir, in which there are provisions for reservation in jobs for people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes and other socially and educationally backward classes as well as increasing the number of assembly seats. The Upper House approved ‘Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ and ‘Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ by voice vote after discussion. Both the bills were discussed together. Lok Sabha has already passed these bills. Dissatisfied with the reply of Home Minister Amit Shah, many members of the opposition walked out of the House.
SC’s decision a big defeat for opposition parties
Home Minister Shah, in his reply, said that the Supreme Court’s decision on the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution is a big defeat for the opposition parties. Along with this, he said that Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India and “no one can snatch it from us”. He said that the Supreme Court’s decision on the Centre’s decision regarding Article 370 is a big defeat for the opposition parties and Those who say that Article 370 is ‘permanent’ are insulting the Constitution and the Constituent Assembly.
Shah said that after the Supreme Court upheld the decision to abrogate the provisions of Article 370, the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir has no validity. After his reply, the House approved both the bills. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act 2004. It provides reservation in jobs and professional institutions to people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes and other socially and educationally backward classes.
At the same time, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019. With the proposed bill, the total number of assembly seats will increase from 83 to 90. In this, 7 seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste and 9 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribe. Also, the Lieutenant Governor can nominate two members, including a woman, from the Kashmiri migrant community to the Assembly.