Hii, my name is Sahil Parray. As we all know, the Open Merit category in Jammu and Kashmir, which was once the foundation of equal opportunity, is now facing a systematic crisis. With reservations extended to nearly 70 % of jobs and seats, only a small fraction is left for General Category aspirants. Even within this fraction, candidates from reserved categories are also allowed to compete, leaving genuine Open Merit students with virtually no space. This has created a situation where merit is no longer valued and thousands of hardworking aspirants feel betrayed and excluded. What makes this crisis even more unjust is the fact that the government’s own Sub-Committee on reservations has already submitted its report, but the Law Department has kept it pending without any explanation. Despite this, the government continues mass recruitments under the old policy, ignoring both the ongoing review process and the case admitted by the High Court which questions the constitutionality of the 70 percent reservation model. By rushing ahead without resolving the matter, the administration has shown disregard for transparency, legality, and the future of lakhs of young people.

The Open Merit Students Association (OMSA) has consistently raised this issue through protests, legal action, and by drafting a rational amendment bill that proposes a fairer balance between merit and reservations. This fight is not against any community, but against a discriminatory system that sidelines merit and erodes equal opportunity. By supporting this cause, you are standing for justice, fairness, and the protection of future generations in J&K who deserve to be judged by their hard work, not by the flaws of a biased system.