Domicile certificate distribution among deprived communities commences in Jammu

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday started the process of distributing domicile certificates under the new domicile law among people belonging to different sections with the distribution of more than 50 domicile certificates at a special camp organised for the purpose in Jammu.
The recipients included West Pakistani Refugees, people belonging to the downtrodden sections of the society such as Balmiki Samaj, Gorkhas and others from R S Pura, Bishnah, Bahu, Jammu South and etc.
“Jammu divisional commissioner Sanjeev Verma distributed the certificates under the new domicile law in a special camp organised here,” an official spokesman said, adding, “The certificate recipients included those who have been residing in J&K for more than 70 years but were deprived of their legitimate citizenship rights.” Many senior citizens also participated in the camp.
“With the distribution of domicile certificates, the long-pending demand of the public has been fulfilled. People who were living in Jammu and Kashmir for many years but were deprived of citizenship rights now have equal rights as other J&K citizens,” DC Sanjeev Verma said.
As per the new domicile rules, those who have lived for 15 years in J&K/ have studied for seven years/ appeared in Class 10 or 12 board examinations in an educational institution in the Union Territory are eligible for a domicile certificate. Children of central government officials, all-India service officers, officials of PSUs and autonomous body of the central government, public sector banks, officials of statutory bodies, central universities and recognised research institutes of the Centre — who have served in Jammu of Kashmir for a total period of 10 years — will also be eligible for domicile status in the UT.
Besides, migrants and their children registered with the relief and rehabilitation commissioner will be granted a domicile certificate. Children of J&K residents who live outside the UT in connection with their employment of business or other professional or vocational reasons are eligible for grant of domicile status. West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs), ‘safai karamcharis’ and children of women married outside J&K are also eligible for a domicile certificate. West Pakistani refugees were part of the parliamentary electoral roll, but not in the erstwhile state electoral roll. They will now be covered under the 15-year residence rule or their children under the seven-year/class 10/12 rule.
Mayor JMC Chander Mohan Gupta, Deputy Mayor JMC Purnima Sharma, Jammu additional commissioner Rakesh Sarangal, Assistant Commissioner (Central) Kulbhushan Khajuria, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Jammu, Vijay Sharma and other officials were also present on the occasion.
(with inputs from Saleem Pandit in Srinagar)