Ronik Sharma
As the Government has started process for the issuance of domicile certificate in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the residents in Jammu and Kashmir and for others who are residing outside Jammu and Kashmir being bonafide migrants or displaced persons for the purpose of issuance of domicile certificate. As per the Government order No.52-JK(DMRRR) dated 16-5- 2020 , the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), Jammu and Kashmir will be the Competent Authority for the purpose of Registration of displaced persons besides Kashmiri Migrants for the purpose of issuance of domicile certificates. Pertaining to the notification the bonafide displaced persons who are not yet registered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), Jammu and Kashmir, can apply before Competent Authority for registration for the purpose of issuance of a domicile certificate with their related documents as mentioned in the notification. The information technology department has also launched online Application form cum issuance of domicile certificate through the medium of www.jk.in/jkeservices/home . In the case of Displaced persons from POJK in 1947 who are settled outside J&K while uploading Application for issue of Domicile Certificate, Clause 4a or 4b of Rule 5 is applicable to them. But while clicking option 4a, or 4b a message is niw appearing as “Permanent Address of Applicant should be from Union Territory of J&K for this clause”. As they were settled outside J&K since last so many decades and their ancestors had already left movable as well as immovable property behind in the areas which are now under the illegal occupation of Pakistan popularly known as POJK (Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir) therefore, their Permanent address is there under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. While applying, families who were settled outside J&K are facing some problems for getting registration cum issuance of domicile certificate. In Applications uploaded before 30th June they have been mentioning their present Address as Permanent Address e.g. Delhi etc. and those Applications were uploaded successfully. Can they give the address of any of their relatives address living at Jammu as Permanent Address? But they won't be able to furnish any ration card, voter card etc. of Jammu and Kashmir because they have never resided in J&K. Many displaced people are there who don't possess any PRC or Registration Certificate of themselves or their parents who are settled outside J&K, but their name is available in the “List of Declaration Forms not entered in the Original Nominal Role pertaining to Delhi Province” and their registration number is also mentioned in front of their name e.g. JK/D/U/307. They are having documents related to payment of ex-gratia of Rs. 3,500/- or allotment of house, the amount adjusted against the said ex-gratia. They should be allowed to furnish such documents for uploading Applications for issue of Domicile Certificate as they are the real stakeholders and bonafide displaced persons of 1947 Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) .Therefore, Keeping in view the problems being faced by the displaced persons while applying for the issuance of domicile certificate the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is urged to simplify the process of registration cum issuance of domicile certificate for displaced persons who got settled outside J&K and also initiate a process to contact all such left out displaced persons who were not registered till date due to the negligence and mis-management of the successive governments in the erstwhile State of J&K. The Union Territory administration, particularly Department of Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction should also start a separate wing for the registration of displaced persons settled outside and a grievance redressal cell for any kind of problem, queries and solutions, so that the displaced persons who are residing in different parts of the country do not face any kind of difficulty while applying for the registration cum issuance of domicile certificate.
The author is an advocate from Jammu.
