J&K Govt Notifies Domicile Rules; PDP Condemns Move

Those in possession of the permanent resident certificates do not need any other document to get the domicile certificate. Photo used for representational purposes only.

(Photo: PTI)

The Jammu & Kashmir government on Monday, 18 May, issued a notification specifying the conditions for obtaining domicile certificates necessary for applying for government jobs and other privileges in the Union Territory.

The domicile rules notified now replace the erstwhile J&K permanent resident rules that stood abrogated along with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.

The notification has been issued in exercise of powers confirmed by Article 309 of the Constitution of India read with Section 15 of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralisation and Recruitment) Act, 2010.

The details of the notification were shared with the media by government spokesman Rohit Kansal at a press conference.

According to the new rules all those holding the permanent resident certificates of the erstwhile J&K state are eligible to get the domicile certificates from the designated authority which in all cases are tehsildars of different areas in J&K or other officials those may be notified by the government.

“Those in possession of the permanent resident certificates do not need any other document to get the domicile certificate. A person who has resided in the Union Territory for 15 years or studied in Jammu & Kashmir for seven years and has appeared in class 10th/12th examination in an educational institution located in Jammu & Kashmir.”

Rohit Kansal, government spokesman

"Or who is registered as a migrant by the relief and rehabilitation commissioner (Migrants) in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir as per procedure prescribed by government for migrants and displaced persons,” he added.

"Or who is a child of central government official, all India services officers, officials of public sector undertakings and autonomous body of central government, public sector banks, officials of statutory bodies, officials of central universities and recognised research institutes of the central government who have served in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir for a total period of 10 years are eligible to get domicile certificates," the spokesman said.

He also said a child of parents who are residents outside the UT of Jammu & Kashmir in connection with their employment or business or other professional or vocational reasons but who fulfil any of the conditions described in clauses (a) or (b) of the notification are also eligible for domicile certificates.

“To make the entire process transparent the designated authority will have to issue the certificate within 15 days of receiving the application. There is also an appellate authority that will dispose of appeals against the decision of the designated authority within a period of seven days.” 

Rohit Kansal, government spokesman

"A designated officer shall be bound by the decision of the appellate authority failing which a penalty of Rs 50,000 will be imposed on the designated official and this will be recovered from his/her salary," Kansal said.

PDP Condemns Move

The Peoples Democratic Party condemned the rule, reported Outlook.

“Even a pandemic is no deterrent for the GOI to continue with its disempowerment project for JK. Orders like the one on domicile certificates don’t settle anything, neither do they cover up the 5 August fraud. The demographic change and disenfranchisement will further complicate the J&K issue which has claimed thousands of lives so far. This will be resisted through all democratic, peaceful means.”

PDP to <i><a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-govt-issues-domicile-rules-for-jammu-and-kashmir-pdp-says-will-resist/353058">Outlook</a></i>

(With inputs from IANS and Outlook.)