Centre redefines domicile for J&K, extends it to those living in UT for over 15 years

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: In a major decision, the Centre on Tuesday notified changes in domicile rules for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir providing that anyone residing in J&K for 15 years or more will be eligible for government jobs, immediately raising the hackles of Kashmir parties like National Conference and PDP which said it added insult to injury and is akin to rubbing salt into wounds.

The domicile rights are also extended to all migrants who have been registered by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner in the erstwhile state whose status dramatically changed when its special status under Article 370 was rescinded on August 5 last year.

The new domicile rules, notified in the gazette and made applicable from Tuesday, further provides that anyone who has studied for a period of seven years and appeared in Class 10th or 12th examination in J&K is eligible for domicile certificate of the UT. All such people can obtain a domicile certificate from Tehsildar of their area of residence.

“Talk about suspect timing. At a time when all our efforts and attention should be focused on the Covid-19 outbrea