Amid Corona pandemic, Modi govt redefines who is a domiciled Kashmiri

Before Article 370 was revoked in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, it had a separate constitution. Powered by Article 35A of the Indian Constitution, its own constitution had defined Permanent Residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The Permanent Residents were to avail certain privileges compared to others.

The cut-off date for identifying Permanent Residents of Jammu and Kashmir had been fixed at May 14, 1954 with condition that the persons must have resided in the erstwhile state for 10 years or more. Their children were to be recognized as Permanent Residents.

No one barring the Permanent Residents was allowed to buy property in Jammu and Kashmir, apply for a government job, join a professional college or seek any aid out of a fund belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Now, that has changed. New rules have changed that position in the Jammu and Kashmir government. The local leadership including recently released Omar Abdullah of the National Conference has opposed the new rules of domicile.