99% of former PRC holders get domicile papers in J&K

“We are monitoring the process on a daily basis,” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang Kondbarao Pole told India News Stream.

“Our aim is people should get hassle-free delivery system and it has been ensured that the applicants get access online as well,” Pole said.

While the government is putting pressure on the revenue department to verify applications for domicile certificates in Jammu & Kashmir quickly, officials, wishing anonymity said that slow 2G internet service was halting the issuance of domicile certificates.

Meanwhile, the government recently said over 12.5 lakh domicile certificates were issued so far, with 99% of them being erstwhile Permanent Resident Certificate (PRD) holders.

The certificates don’t confer the land rights but are meant for applying for jobs, it said.

“Over 99% of those issued certificates include holders of erstwhile Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) and include Kashmiri Pandit migrants,” government spokesman Rohit Kansal said.

So far, 11,398 West Pakistan refugees, 415 Valmikis, 10 Gorkhas and 12,340 registered migrants have been issued the certificates, he said.

Kansal said the government has reduced the time limit from 15 days to just five days for providing domicile certificates to PRC holders. “For erstwhile J&K residents, the domicile certificate would be issued on availability of PRCs,” he added.

Principal Secretary Revenue Pawan Kotwal said the certificate is for applying for jobs and does not confer right to buy land. “It has nothing to do with land rights. It is only a device for a person to get employment under the Decentralization and Recruitment Act. The domicile certificate does not entitle the right to buy the land here,” he asserted.

‘Action on Spot’

The government suspended a Kashmir Administrative Officer (KAS) for resorting to “dilly-dally tactics” in the issuance of Domicile Certificates to the applicants. Tehsildar Jammu (Khas) Ravi Shankar was suspended and attached in the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu. The reason given for the suspension and attachment of KAS officer Ravi Shankar is the dereliction of duties involving disobedience and very ‘poor performance’ in the issuance of the Domicile Certificates to the applicants causing huge suffering and inconvenience to the general public.

Principal Secretary to the government Revenue Department Dr Pawan Kotwal said the Deputy Commissioner Jammu shall hold an inquiry into the conduct and performance of Ravi Shankar under rules and furnish a report accordingly to the government within a period of 15 days.

While the J&K government last week made it mandatory for its officers to issue domicile certificates to permanent resident certificate (PRC) holders and migrants in just five days, against the earlier deadline of 15 days, Principal Secretary, Revenue and Inspector General Registrations, Dr Pawan Kotwal said the government was soon introducing e-stamping as well.

‘Schedule for imparting training to the stamp vendors have already been issued by the Commissioner stamps for both the divisions of the Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Dr Kotwal said the government established the office of the Additional Inspector General Registration (AIGR), Kashmir, which has been fully equipped to start online registration of properties under National Generic Documents Registration System (NGDRS) to facilitate the public by providing them with an efficient, speedy and hassle-free service mechanism.

—-India News Stream