Dr Jitendra Singh says the amended domicile laws in Jammu & Kashmir are as per the principles of equality, civil rights, Indian laws

UNDER the amended domicile rules notified by the Jammu & Kashmir Administration following the reorganisation of  J and K by Parliament in August 2019, people belonging to West Pakistan, Valmikis, women marrying outside their communities, non-registered Kashmiri migrants and displaced people get domicile status. In a TV interview, Dr Jitendra Singh, MOS in the Prime Minister’s Office  (PMO), said that three generations of people of Jammu and Kashmir over 70 years had been denied the right to live with justice and dignity, and it was heartening to see this redemption happening soon. one “who has resided for 15 years in J&K, or has studied for 7 years and appeared in Class 10/12 exam in J&K, or is registered as migrant by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner” is now domiciled in J & K. Referring to those who are opposing the changes, he said if a survey is done to ascertain the views of their children, it will be clear that they would back these changes. “Their children will bless us and history will vindicate us in the years to come, “Dr Singh said.

The decision taken by Central government to allow people across the nation to obtain domicile of Jammu and Kashmir is a major step after the central government scrapped Article 370 and 35A on August 5 last year. The union government has redefined domicile through Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaption of state laws) order, 2020 issued under section 96 of Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This notification of new rules will prove to be a blessing for future generations, he said. He slammed those who are opposing this move saying they are only exposing themselves to the accusation that for the last seven decades they had been thriving on politics of discrimination. It is an irony that all India service officers, including IAS and IPS, who devoted 30 to 35 years of their life to serve in Jammu & Kashmir after superannuation asked to pack up, leave and look for a place elsewhere to settle. This was quite in contrast to the arrangement in several states and Union Territories where the all India service officers of state cadre are not only allowed to settle but are also provided plots of land for the same, he said. A gross injustice was being done to the children of these officials who did their entire schooling in Jammu and Kashmir but was debarred from applying for admission to higher education institutions there, the minister said.
The new domicile rules should be an opportunity for wider exposure and capacity building for children, so that they can prepare themselves to flourish in global India said Dr Jitendra  Singh who belongs to Jammu & Kashmir.