Jammu: In a significant political development concerning displaced families in Jammu and Kashmir, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla on Tuesday led a delegation to meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu, pressing for issuance of Scheduled Tribe (ST2) certificates to displaced Pahari families from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and implementation of a ₹30 lakh rehabilitation package for displaced persons (DPs).
Describing the matter as one of “constitutional justice and equal treatment,” Bhalla urged the Chief Minister to direct district administrations across the Union Territory to ensure uniform implementation of the Scheduled Tribe notification for the Pahari Ethnic Group (PEG), irrespective of the applicants’ present district of residence.
The delegation submitted a memorandum dated March 3, 2026, highlighting grievances of displaced persons belonging to the Pahari Ethnic Group who are currently residing in various districts of the Jammu division, particularly Jammu district, but outside Rajouri and Poonch.
According to the memorandum, eligible applicants fulfilling the criteria laid down under SO 176 dated March 15, 2024, are allegedly facing rejection or non-processing of their ST2 applications in districts other than Rajouri and Poonch. The delegation sought immediate directions to ensure that eligible members of the displaced PoJK Pahari community are granted ST2 certificates without discrimination based on geographical location.
Bhalla maintained that as per Rule 21 of SO 176, an applicant seeking benefits under the Pahari Ethnic Group category must belong to the Pahari clan, community or tribe with a distinct cultural, ethnic and linguistic identity, and produce valid identification documents such as Aadhaar Card, Voter Identity Card or Domicile Certificate, along with certification from the competent authority, namely the concerned Tehsildar.
He alleged that displaced PoJK Pahari families fulfill all the prescribed requirements but are being denied ST2 certification solely because they presently reside in districts such as Jammu or Samba. Terming the interpretation “restrictive and discriminatory,” Bhalla argued that Scheduled Tribe status is determined by ethnicity and cultural identity rather than district boundaries.
The memorandum referred to an earlier official clarification issued in response to a former legislator from Kishtwar, which reportedly stated that ST status granted to the Pahari Ethnic Group is based on distinct ethnicity and not geographical location. The delegation described the alleged selective implementation as contradictory.
Citing instances highlighted in the memorandum, the delegation claimed that in some cases two brothers displaced from Poonch during the 1947 conflict are being treated differently by the administration. While one brother settled in Rajouri or Poonch has reportedly been granted ST2 status, another residing in Jammu or Samba has allegedly been placed in the general category.
The delegation also recalled that the earlier Pahari Speaking People (PSP) certificate approved in 2020 was implemented only in six districts, which, they said, created geographical limitations for a community sharing common ancestry and cultural identity across the Union Territory.
In addition to the ST2 issue, Bhalla reiterated the demand for implementation of the Parliamentary Committee’s recommendation of a ₹30 lakh rehabilitation package for PoJK displaced families. He said thousands of families uprooted during the 1947 conflict continue to face economic hardship and require comprehensive financial assistance.
“For nearly eight decades, these families have struggled to rebuild their lives. The recommended package is essential for dignified rehabilitation,” Bhalla said, adding that recognition of identity and economic support must go hand in hand.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured that the concerns raised would be examined in accordance with the law. He said appropriate steps would be taken after reviewing the matter.
The delegation included Amrit Bali (Ex-Sarpanch), Retd Col Ravinder Sharma, S. Rajinder Singh (Ex-Sarpanch), S. Gurmeet Singh, S. Inder Pal Singh, Ankush Raina, Madan Lal Sharma, Romesh Raina, Koushal Kumar Shastri, Babu Ram Sharma, Tushar Sharma, Rohit Khujria and Retd SP Vijay Sharma, among other representatives of the displaced community.
