Dinesh Manhotra Domicile
Jammu and Kashmir, the two regions of the newly created Union Territory (UT) of J&K, are on the same page to grant “domicile-like options” to protect “interests of the locals” after the abrogation of Article 370.
Although since August 7, the BJP has been suggesting this idea, leaders of the Kashmir Valley, too, have echoed this demand of “domicile safeguards” to project jobs and land rights of locals.
During their meeting with Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Girish Chander Murmu on January 7, top leaders of the Valley had raised this demand which was endorsed by the PDP’s patron Muzaffar Hussain Baig on the very next day during a media interaction.
“The most important issue can be addressed by tangible legal and constitutional safeguards that can be put in place by virtue of which protection of domicile rights, including that of reservation for the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir in the matter of employment and that of admissions to professional courses, are ensured. A blend of models like Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh can provide solution for the protection of these rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir”, the politicians demanded through the memorandum submitted to the L-G.
PDP patron Baig has also supported this demand. “The Government of India has put domicile safeguards via Section 371 in hilly states. Since J&K is also a hilly region and unemployment is a major problem here, there should be similar domicile safeguards, job and land rights in place for the people here”, the PDP patron said.
Muzaffar Baig strongly advocated safeguarding the domicile rights of the locals by according “hill state” status to J&K on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States.
Earlier on August 7, 2019, BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had assured that “domicile-like option” will soon be suggested to the Union Government. “The centre is already exploring limitations to ensure local rights will not be usurped,” he mentioned.
