the Lok Sabha passed the Scheduled Tribes Order Bill, 2024, aiming to include specific ethnic groups and tribes from Jammu and Kashmir into the list of Scheduled Tribes.
Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The historic Bill aims at empowering (i) Pahari Ethnic Group (ii) Padari Tribes (iii) Koli and (iv) Gadda Brahmin by providing Scheduled Tribe status. This has been long pending demand of these communities.The inclusion of these communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir will have absolutely no impact on current level of reservations available to the existing Scheduled Tribe communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals. They will continue to get reservation like before.
Reservation to the newly listed Scheduled Tribes will be provided in such a manner that it does not impact the communities which are already listed as Scheduled Tribes. After the Bill is passed by the Parliament, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will issue necessary notifications on reservation, which will ensure that the people included in the existing list of Scheduled Tribes continue to get the same level of reservation.Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government is committed to inclusive development of every section and community of society with the mantra of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vishwas. Passage of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is another significant step in this direction.The President of India has given assent to Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act, 2024.Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a gazette notification reads as : “The following Act of Parliament received the Assent of the President on 12 February 2024 and is herby published for general information.”
” An Act to further to Amendment the Constitution (J&K) Scheduled Tribes Order 1989; Be it enacted by Parliament in the 75th year of the Republic of India; this Act may be called Constitution (J&K) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act 2024.”
Parliament has already given nod to the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The historic Bill aims at empowering (i) Pahari Ethnic Group (ii) Padari Tribes (iii) Koli and (iv) Gadda Brahmin by providing Scheduled Tribe status. This has been long pending demand of these communities.BJP National General Secretary and In-Charge J&K Tarun Chugh on Wednesday called the grant of ST status to Paharis as a watershed moment for the Union territory.Chugh hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his pioneering initiative as the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed in the Lok Sabha.The historic Bill aims at empowering (i) Pahari Ethnic Group (ii) Padari Tribes (iii) Koli and (iv) Gadda Brahmin by providing Scheduled Tribe status fulfilling the long-standing demand of these communities in J&K.
Lashing out at the opposition parties for politicising the matter, Chugh said it is a historic moment for the Pahari Ethnic Community.
He said that passing of this bill with a thumping majority is a befitting reply to the political parties who were politicising the issue for their own vested interest.
Chugh said that these Bills have brought justice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it has only been possible under the leadership of PM Modi. “Congress and other regional parties have failed to deliver justice to the people over the last 70 years and used these communities for their own political benefits only,” he said.
He said that these Bills will restore the rights of the people belonging to Pahari and other communities who have been added in the SC and ST lists, while the PM Modi-led government has also elevated the status of Gujjar and Bakerwal communities.Chugh said the Prime Minister has in the recent past taken a number of initiatives that would go a long way in bringing about unprecedented development in J&K besides improving the economic condition of the people.
The Upper House also cleared The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 by voice vote.
The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill-2024 seeks to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir and bring consistency in the local body laws of the Union territory with the provisions of the Constitution.Currently, there is no provision for reservation of seats for OBCs in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir.The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, adds Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Balmiki, Bhangi, and Mehtar communities in the list of Scheduled Castes in Jammu and Kashmir.The bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order of 1956, which lists the castes deemed to be Scheduled Castes in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The three bills were taken simultaneously for discussion and passage in the Upper House.
Replying to the discussion on the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda said the bill seeks to give justice to the communities who were demanding ST status for long.“The scrapping of Article 370 has allowed us to bring these laws,” he noted.Replying to the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai said the government has taken several steps for the welfare of the OBCs in the Union territory and this amendment is another step in that direction.
There are three main amendments to the bill. Firstly, the bill ensures reservation for OBCs in panchayats and municipal bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. Secondly, the state election commission will be in-charge of conducting elections to panchayats and municipalities, he said.
Thirdly, the removal process of state election commissioner will be according to the constitutional provisions and can only be removed under circumstances similar to those of a judge of a high court, Rai added.
He also listed out the development works undertaken after removal of Article 370 in the union territory and said Jammu & Kashmir is now peaceful and on the path of development.
Rai said incidents of terrorist activities and stone pelting have come down.
Replying to the discussion on the The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said the communities will get the benefits of so many schemes with the passing of the bills.
