J&K LC Passes Bill for extension of reservation for SCs

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council today passed a Bill to extend reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) in the Legislative Assembly for ten years till January 25, 2020.
The Bill, moved by the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah, sought to amend sub-section 2 of section 49 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, to extend the reservation in favour of the SC category in the Legislative Assembly of the state for a further period of 10 years up to January 25, 2020.
The provision had ceased from January 25, 2010, the Bill said.
The Bill, which has been already passed by the Legislative Assembly, was passed by voice vote in the Council.

Section 49 of the State Constitution provides for reservation of seats in the Legislative Assembly for Scheduled Castes, it said.
However, the provision was effective up to the expiry of a period of 53 years from the commencement of the State Constitution, it added.
The Parliament has already passed the Constitution - 109th Amendment - Bill, 2009, relating to amendment of Article 334 of the Constitution of India to extend the provisions relating to reservation of seats in the Parliament as well as State Legislatures by another 10 years and same has been taken up by the Union with the states for ratification of the Bill as required under the Constitution of India, the Bill added.