J&K CM Omar Abdullah.
Credit: PTI Photo
Srinagar: Amid growing concerns about demographic changes following the abrogation of Article 370, the Jammu and Kashmir government revealed on Wednesday that over 83,000 outsiders have been granted domicile certificates, allowing them to apply for government jobs and own property in the Union Territory (UT).
In response to a question raised by opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Parra in the Legislative Assembly, the government disclosed that 83,742 domicile certificates were issued to non-state subjects in the past two years.
Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state and restricted rights over jobs, scholarships and land to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Parliament in August 2019. It barred outsiders from settling permanently or buying property in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the abrogation, a domicile law was introduced in 2020, permitting outsiders who have lived in the UT for 15 years or studied there for seven years to apply for a domicile certificate, thereby granting them eligibility for land ownership and government employment.
In 2020, the Centre argued that the domicile rules were amended to benefit marginalised and minority groups in Jammu and Kashmir. However, many in the Kashmir Valley contend that the new law is aimed at altering the region’s demographic makeup.
Last month, J&K Apni Party, which is perceived to be the BJP’s proxy in Kashmir, had urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to use his authority to extend the eligibility criteria for domicile rights from 15 years to a 50-year residency requirement.
Recently, the J&K Apni Party, often seen as aligned with the BJP in Kashmir, called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to extend the eligibility for domicile rights from 15 years to a 50-year residency requirement.
Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari urged the Chief Minister to take action to safeguard the rights of Jammu and Kashmir’s indigenous residents. “As the holder of the revenue portfolio, you have the authority to change the domicile rules. At the very least, you should ensure that 50 years of residency in J&K becomes a condition for domicile eligibility,” Bukhari said.