New domicile rule in J&K

Before the abrogation of article 370 and article 35A, State of J&K gained special powers to define its ‘permanent residents’ and restrict land, educational and employment rights only to them.

Subsequent to changes in article 370 and 35A, the concept of “permanent resident of the State” was discontinued in J&K.

As per the new domicile rules, those persons and their children who have resided for 15 years in J&K, or have studied for seven years and appeared in the Class X or XII exam in an educational institution in the UT, are eligible for grant of domicile.

The new domicile rule brings hope and respite to sections of people such as refugees from Pakistan, sanitary workers resettled from other parts of India, people belonging to SC & ST and Gorkha soldiers arrived their before independence.

There is also concern about the new domicile rule that it will lead to large influx of migration to the region and fear of engineered demographic change under state initiative.

But such fears are misplaced and movement of people would leads only to progress and prosperity.

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