Jammu and Kashmir High Court orders Centre, UT to respond to plea against including Pahari-speakers in ST list

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court responded to a plea challenging the exclusion of Pahari speakers from the Scheduled Tribe list. The Centre and the UT administration defended their position, citing the criteria used for determining ST status. The plea argued that Pahari speakers should be included based on historical evidence and community identity. The court directed both sides to file detailed responses, acknowledging the complexity of the issue and its socio-economic implications.