Despite ST status, Gadda Brahmins struggle to get category certificates

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, July 8

Months after they, along with three other communities, were granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Central Government, Gadda Brahmins are struggling to get their ST certificates in different parts of the Union Territory (UT).

The community resides in far-off mountainous areas of Jammu division and was granted the ST status along with Pahari, Padari and Koli tribes. The community members have also given a representation to the administration seeking immediate resolution of the issue.

Issue raised with admn

• The issue has been brought to the notice of the Social Welfare Department of J&K, in which members of the Gadda Brahmin community have informed about the non-issuance of ST certificates
• J&K Gadda Brahmin Sabha president Shiv Kumar informed the government that all tehsildars in J&K, except the one at Basantgarh in Udhampur, were not issuing ST certificates to community members

The Lok Sabha in February passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, after which these communities were included in the ST category.

With the name of their caste absent from the revenue records of Jammu and Kashmir, Gadda Brahmins are facing the problem as tehsildars are not issuing them certificates, without which they are not eligible for reservation under the ST category.

It has been learnt that the issue has been brought to the notice of the Social Welfare Department of J&K. Gadda Brahmin Sabha, J&K, president Shiv Kumar has informed the government that all tehsildars in J&K, except the one at Basantgarh in Udhampur, are not issuing ST certificates to the community members.

A meeting of members of Gadda Brahmin community was held on June 16 in Udhampur in which the issue of certificate was discussed. The community is mostly found in Udhampur, Kathua and Ramban districts of Jammu division.

Gadda Brahmins constitute a microscopic segment of the population of Gaddi and Sippi Scheduled Tribe community. From cradle to grave, they remain associated with performing all religious ceremonies of Gaddis, Sippies and Koli ST groups. From 1990 to date, Gaddis and Sippies are reaping the benefits of ST status. Several representations were made to get the Gadda Brahmin community included in the ST category in the past.

Udhampur Tehsildar Jai Singh said while he had not received any application for issuance of the ST certificate from community members, “the Gadda Brahmin community has no entry in the revenue records of J&K”. Reservation to the four communities is also seen as a political move by the BJP to score points in the Lok Sabha and upcoming Assembly poll in the UT.