Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Saturday expanded the Union Territory’s social caste list by adding 15 new classes.
The new classes added are Waghey (Chopan), Ghirath/Bhati/ Chang community, Jat community, Saini community, Markabans/PonyWalas, Sochi community, Christian Biradari (converted from Hindu Valmiki), Sunar/Swarankar Teeli (Hindu Teeli along with already existing Muslim Teli), Perna/Kouro (Kaurav), Bojru/Decount/ Dubdabay Brahmin Gorkans, Gorkhas, West Pakistani refugees (excluding SCs) and Acharyas.
Under the J&K Government’s reservation rules, social castes have four percent reservation in Government jobs.
The social caste list was redrawn on the recommendations of Jammu and Kashmir Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission which was constituted by J&K Government in 2020. Former High Court Judge, G. D Sharma heads the three-member panel.
The other significant change made in J&K Reservation Rules is that the words “Pahari Speaking people (PSP)” has been substituted with “Pahari Ethnic people”.
