Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday informed that the new domicile certificate was only for applying for jobs and did not confer rights to own land, nor would it entitle inclusion in the voters’ list in the union territory.
It was also informed that the process of the issuance of domicile certificates has been accelerated and about 12.5 lakh of these certificates have been issued so far with over 99 percent being to the erstwhile PRC holders.
“The domicile certificate is for applying for jobs in Jammu and Kashmir… It does not confer right to buy land,” Principal Secretary Revenue Pawan Kotwal told reporters here.
He was accompanied by Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Power Development and Information departments, and Director Information and Public Relations, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar at the press conference. Kansal is also the government spokesperson.
The officials said those holding domicile certificates would not also be included in the voters’ list in the union territory.
Kansal said the government has so far issued more than 12.5 lakh domicile certificates.
“More than 99 percent of the domicile certificates have been issued to those who already had the erstwhile Permanent Resident Certificate,” he said.
Kansal said the government has reduced the time-frame for issuance of domicile certificates for PRC holders from 15 days to just five days.
“Holding a PRC is enough to get a domicile certificate. There would not be any further verification. This will accelerate the process,” he added.
Asked about the fake PRCs issued in the past, he said there were separate provisions of laws that deal with that aspect.
Giving background about the domicile certificate procedure, Kansal said that the government had notified the Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020, which is the basic eligibility condition for appointment to any post under the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir following amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment) Act, 2010.
Kansal reaffirmed that the rules provide a simple and time-bound procedure for the issuance of the domicile certificate so that no one is put to any inconvenience, besides there are provisions for time-bound issuance for certificates including an Appellate Authority whose orders will be binding, and which has revisional powers as well.
“The rules have a provision that applications for grant of domicile certificate can be submitted either physically or electronically online. The Competent Authority can also issue domicile certificate(s) electronically,” he said.
He also mentioned that the Permanent Residents of the erstwhile State of J&K in whose favour Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) has been issued by the competent authority before October 31, 2019 shall be eligible for receiving their domicile certificates on the basis of PRCs alone and no other additional document shall be required for such residents.
Similarly, he noted that for Kashmiri migrants, a very simple procedure has been prescribed; they can get the domicile certificate on production of either a PRC or certificate of registration as migrant and added that further for bonafide migrants and bonafide displaced persons who have migrated but have not registered with the Relief department, there is a special limited provision for registration.
He further explained that in order to further simplify the process and ensure issuance of domicile in the bare minimum time, the government has issued a notification SO 263 dated: 25th of August, 2020 whereby the Competent Authority has been bound to issue the domicile certificates provided under clause 1(a) and clause 4(a) within a period of five working days from the date such application is received by it.
