J&K domicile rules laid out

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 1

The Centre has redefined the domicile rules for government jobs in the newly created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir through a notification issued late Tuesday night, evoking sharp reactions from political leaders who said it “added insult to injury” of the people.

Before August 5 last year, Article 35 A of the Constitution (now abrogated) empowered the J&K Assembly to define the state residents, who alone were eligible to apply for jobs or own immovable property. The new definition of domicile also expands to include “children of those Central government officials, all India services officers, officials of PSUs and autonomous bodies of Central government, public sector banks, officials of statutory bodies, officials of central universities and recognised research institutes of Central Government who have served in the UT of J&K for a total period of 10 years or children of parents who fulfil any of the conditions in sections.”

Additionally, persons registered as a migrant by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) in the UT of J&K will also be included in the definition. “Children of such residents who reside outside UT of J&K in connection with their employment or business or other professional or vocational reasons” but their parents fulfil any of the conditions provided earlier.

The provisions of the Act authorise the tehsildar as competent authority for issuing the domicile certificate.

The Centre has repealed 29 state laws, which include the J&K Civil Services (special provisions) Act, while 109 have been amended. Section 5A states that no person shall be eligible for appointment to a post carrying a pay scale of not more than level 4 “unless he is a domicile of UT of J&K.”

State ex-CMs lose perks

New Delhi: Section 3-C of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension Act giving former state CMs various privileges has been omitted. They are no longer entitled to rent-free furnished accommodation, free phone calls up to Rs48,000 per annum, free power up to Rs1,500 per month, car, petrol, medical facilities, driver and personal assistant. PTI

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