Jammu, Dec. 3 -- Various issues, including reservation policy, is slated to come up on Wednesday during the cabinet meeting to be held at official residence of J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, said people familiar with the development. The cabinet meeting, first ever in temple city after resumption of the Darbar Move, will be held at 9 am, they said. "A proposal on reservation regarding government jobs and admissions in educational institutions is likely to be taken up during the meeting tomorrow morning," said officials, adding that the share in government jobs and seats in educational institutions for open merit or general candidates is likely to be increased fromthe present 30 to 40%, they added. Jal Shakti, forest, ecology and tribal affairs minister Javed Ahmed Rana said, "Reservation is a concern for general category, for which a cabinet sub committee was formed, which submitted its report to the government and the state cabinet approved it before sending it to the law department. Now, let's see what has been decided." When asked will the share of EWS and RBA be cut down to increase the share of open merit candidates, Rana said, "Some new communities were included into ST category and our OBC and EWS have also come into ST category. A detailed study was conducted by the CSC with the stakeholders. I feel a proper and better recommendation has been made. It will come up tomorrow." Rana, however, asserted that the CSC has given a serious consideration to the issues of all the communities-of reserved categories and general category. Official sources say that the Omar-led government plans to rationalise reservation quotas in certain categories, like Resident of Backward Areas (RBA) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), to accommodate the proposed hike by 10% for candidates from general category. Without touching reserved categories like SC, ST, and OBC, the government intends to hike 10% for the candidates of general category to ensure 40% share to open merit, which has been squeezed to 30% and in some cases to miniscule 20%. The new reservation policy was introduced by lieutenant governor-led administration last year. Following widespread criticism, CM Omar had constituted a three member cabinet sub-committee on December 10 last year under social welfare minister Sakina Itoo. The CSC submitted its recommendations on June 10 followed. Meanwhile, Vinkal Sharma, a youth activist, said that any attempt to reduce EWS reservation would be blatant violation of principles of social justice and equality by the NC government to appease its voter bank. "It is deeply concerning that the government has neither conducted any socio-economic survey nor collected reliable data to assess the actual impact of the reservations already granted to Pahari Speaking People (Now ST2), RBA, and other categories. Amid protests in Katra over MBBS admission row and proposed ropeway project, chiefminister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reiterated his stance on the merit-based admissions to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME). "Admissions are based on merit and not religion," Omar said. Addressing media queries during his visit to Rajouri, Omar said, "There is no need to say anything on this issue. When they (shrine board) decided to make a medical college under Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, they knew that seats couldn't be given on the basis of religion." The CM recalled that the shrine board authorities had given their consent to make NEET scores the sole eligibility criterion to seek admission in institute. "Now, students, who qualified on merit, how can they be denied admission on the basis of religion. Neither law nor constitution allows this and even SMVDU Act doesn't allow this. Still, if they want to provide admission on the basis of religion then they should say no to grant-in-aid from the government and pay for the land given free to them (for raising the infrastructure). Then amend the law and we won't be having any problem," he added Meanwhile, a high level BJP delegation also called on Union health minister JP Nadda at Delhi to discuss the growing controversy surrounding the admissions. The delegation comprised J&K BJP president and MP (Rajya Sabha) Sat Sharma, Union MoS in PMO Jitendra Singh, LoP Sunil Sharma, MP (Lok Sabha) Jugal Kishore Sharma, MP (Rajya Sabha) Ghulam Ali Khatana, MLAs Devinder Manyal, Sham Lal Sharma and RS Pathania...