New Domicile Law is beyond expectation, says Rafi Ahmad Mir

Srinagar, Apr 01 (PTK): Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party on Wednesday said that the presidential order defining the domicile law issued at the depth of night while the world is under the grip of a deadly pandemic, falls way short of expectations despite assurances from prime minister and home minister.

“When world is in grip of a deadly pandemic, Central government has issued a domicile law which is beyond our expectations. The new definition of “domicile is nothing but an insult as neither there is land rights nor jobs rights for Kashmiris,” said JK Apni Party leader Rafi Ahmad Mir while talking with Press Trust of Kashmir (PTK).

He said that by keeping class IV jobs for people of JK, there seems to be a clear intent of conveying yet another serving of humiliation and insult to the people of JK who were already in shock after August 5 and in fear at the moment due to COVID-19.

“The government on Wednesday issued a gazette notification announcing a slew of amendments to 138 Acts of Jammu and Kashmir that included protecting jobs up to Group-4 for only those who are domicile of the union territory,” Mir added.

According to the change in laws, anyone who has resided for 15 years in Jammu and Kashmir or has studied for seven years and appeared in class 10 and class 12 examinations in an educational institution located in the union territory is a domicile. Also, those registered as a migrant by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) will also be deemed to be a domicile. (PTK)