Changes in Jammu and Kashmir domicile law one must know

Srinagar : The Central government on Wednesday announced changes in the current domicile law of the Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir, in an attempt to give more power to the residents.

According to the changes in the law, anyone who is residing in Jammu and Kashmir for more than 15 years 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, the ones who are registered as migrant by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) will also be deemed to be a domicile.

Nearly eight months after the Centre scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, the government has redefined domicile rules for the union territory and ordered that only people who fulfill the criteria are eligible to be appointed to junior posts in the bureaucracy and the constabulary.

The new domicile condition in the recruitment law is designed to address concerns that the union territory status for Jammu and Kashmir would lead to demographic changes since people from any part of the country could apply for jobs and settle in J&K.

The domicile rule would apply for recruitment to all posts that come with a basic salary of Rs 25,500.