Row over new J&K rules for low-rank posts

The Centre has issued a controversial notification on appointments to government posts in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under this, only low-ranking positions -- such as a junior assistant or a peon -- have been reserved for residents, or domiciles, of J&K with the rest open to people from across the country.

Earlier, all jobs had been reserved for permanent residents who also had other exclusive rights, including that over ownership of land.

The notification has also altered the definition of resident or domicile to include those who have lived in J&K for 15 years, as well as those who studied there for at least seven years and appeared for Class 10 and 12 exams from an educational institution in the newly-created union territory.

Eligible individuals will also include children of central government officials in Jammu and Kashmir.

Issued by the Home Ministry, the notification, which empowers Tehsildars to issue certificates to those within their jurisdiction, comes into force with immediate effect. The J&K domicile order, notified on Tuesday, evoked criticism from almost all mainstream political parties. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the new law was an insult to the people as there were none of the promised protections.

He also lashed out at the timing of the notification. "At a time when all our efforts and attention should be focused on COVID outbreak, the government slips in a new domicile law for J&K. Insult is heaped on injury when we see the law offers none of the protections that had been promised," he said in a series of tweets.

According to the law, those having the domicile status will have exclusive rights to apply for jobs up to level four. Above level four are categorised the posts of teachers, Patwaris and all gazetted services including administrators, doctors, engineers, college teachers etc

for which all citizens of the country can apply.

‘‘This order is a casual attempt, cosmetic in nature, to hoodwink the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who genuinely believed that post October 31, 2019, their rights and privileges in the matter of employment would remain as it had been," Altaf Bukhari said.