Notification of rules for the process of issuing domicile certificate in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was released on Monday. Domicile will also be considered a native certificate. Domicile certificate will be issued under the authority under Article 309 of the Indian Constitution and the rules of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Act, 2010. The format for the application of Domicile Certificate has also been released.

The competent authority will issue the certificate to the person who fulfills the conditions set for the domicile certificate. A certificate will be issued to a person living in Jammu and Kashmir for 15 years or studying for seven years. For those studying in the state, the condition is that the person concerned has also given the exams of class X and XII from educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Children of Central Government officials, officers of All India Services, officers of public sector undertakings and autonomous institutions of Central Government, banks of PSUs, officers of Central Universities and registered research institutes, who have been employed in Jammu and Kashmir for 10 years. He and his children will also be considered eligible for Domicile certificate.

The person eligible for Domicile Certificate can submit it to the competent authority by filling the prescribed application form online or offline. In case of minor or disabled people, the guardians appointed under the rules will be able to apply. Permanent citizen certificate holders of the state will apply to the Tehsildar for Domicile Certificate. In his case, the District Deputy Commissioner will be the Appellate Authority. Children of permanent certificate holders will also apply to the Tehsildar. In his case also, DC Appellate Authority will be there.

For those living in Jammu and Kashmir for fifteen years, the Tehsildar of the area in which he has lived will remain the competent authority. The applicant will have to present ration card, teaching record etc. In the case of children of a person who has been in Jammu and Kashmir for 15 years, the Tehsildar will remain the competent authority. In the case of people studying in Jammu and Kashmir for seven years, the Tehsildar will remain the competent authority. District Deputy Commissioner Appellate Authority has been created.

In the case of the displaced, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner will remain the displaced competent authority. The same will be the case with the children of the displaced. In the case of children of officers of the Central Services, the Additional Secretary or the officer of the General Administrative Department will remain the competent authority. In the case of officers serving for ten years, the competent authority will be nominated. The children of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir who are working outside the state or doing other work, the Tehsildar will remain the competent authority.

The PDP and the National Conference have opposed the government’s decision to declare the Domicile Certificate Act as a betrayal of the people of the state, while the BJP, while welcoming it, has called it a decision taken in the interest of the people.