Jammu: Students under the Gujjar-Bakerwal Students Alliance (GBSA) staged a protest at Jammu University, opposing the inclusion of non-locals in recruitment processes that are intended for Kashmiri native Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC).

According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesters claimed that the university is violating Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) reservation policies by allowing candidates from Indian states to apply for positions reserved for indigenous communities. GBSA President Irfan Chowdhary labeled the decision unconstitutional, arguing that it discriminates against native tribal communities and undermines the reservation policy designed to protect their rights.

General Secretary Sakib Choudhary stated that the university’s practices compromise local livelihoods and contradict the objectives of reservation policies aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of marginalized communities. Mohammad Ashraf, a GBSA spokesperson, emphasized that Jammu University, being a state-funded institution, is required to adhere to IIOJK’s reservation regulations. Similarly, student leaders Nazir Poswal and Haris Ali condemned 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 sent copies to the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor, calling for immediate intervention to ensure adherence to legal reservation policies. The protest saw significant participation, with students urging the university administration to take corrective steps and safeguard the rights of tribal communities.