In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, students under the banner of the Gujjar-Bakerwal Students Alliance (GBSA) staged a protest at Jammu University, opposing the inclusion of non-locals in recruitment processes meant for Kashmiri native Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC).

According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesting students said that the university is breaching IIOJK’s reservation policies by allowing candidates from Indian states to apply for posts reserved for indigenous communities. GBSA President Irfan Chowdhary called the move unconstitutional, stating, ‘It discriminates against native tribal communities and directly attacks the reservation policy designed to protect their rights.’

General Secretary Sakib Choudhary argued that such practices undermine local livelihoods and defeat the purpose of the reservation policies meant for the socio-economic upliftment of the marginalized communities. GBSA spokesperson Mohammad Ashraf stressed that Jammu University, being a state-funded institution, is obligated to follow IIOJK’s reservation rules. Similarly, student leaders Nazir Poswal and Haris Ali denounced the inclusion of non-locals in the recruitment process as discriminatory and unjust.

The alliance submitted a memorandum to Tribal Affairs Minister Javed Rana and forwarded copies to the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor, requesting their immediate intervention to ensure compliance with legal reservation policies. The protest witnessed significant participation, with students urging the university administration to take corrective measures and uphold the rights of tribal communities.