After things having been smoothened and made easy both for the concerned officials as well as for the applicants, why should there be unjustified and uncalled for delays in issuing of the vital document of the ‘Domicile Certificate’ in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir? We recall the intricate, complicated, prolonged and lengthier procedure, otherwise largely avoidable, in issuing of the Permanent State Subject (Resident) Certificate at the concerned offices of Deputy Commissioners in the past. Not only days and weeks but it was a question of months when one would be fortunate enough to get it. Not mincing words, it was not generally easy to get one unless one exerted means and ways to get it- be it a top ‘sufarish’, continuous follow up or gratification. Since most of the unnecessarily asked for documents and lengthy procedures which ruled issuing of PRCs have been done away with in issuing of the substitute thereof which is known as Domicile Certificate, that there should be numerous complaints about the delays caused in its issuing is beyond comprehension but not difficult in tagging the element of suspicion to it.
However, it is a matter of satisfaction that numerous complaints being there in respect of the issuing of the Domicile Certificate have been taken note of by the UT administration. In this connection, the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary have directed to streamline and rationalise the system of handing over the important document which every resident of Jammu and Kashmir is otherwise required to get. While taking a serious note of the unnecessary delays caused in the matter, slew of directions have been issued to the concerned top Revenue Authorities, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and other concerned so that difficulties faced by the applicant citizens are minimised. Since we are yet to free our officialdom from the old, obsolete and time consuming procedures and where still the mindset exists to oppose short cuts which agreeably are non compromising on safety, security and basic legal fundamentals, the approach to the issue should be that of promptness, accuracy, speed and disposal as quickly as possible. In that context, the Chief Secretary has arranged devising of special formats whereby the entire exercise could be monitored. We feel that this monitoring should not get fizzled out within a few days but should be made on weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis regularly.
There are no particular and special documents required to be attached with the application except the Aadhar card, passport, driving licence, ration card, PAN card, passport photograph etc which unlike in the previous arrangement does not look any difficult. In so far as Driving Licenses are concerned, those having fallen due for renewal during the last three months are valid up to the end of September as per the government notification which should be duly displayed at the offices of the Tehsildars, Deputy Commissioners and other concerned offices. However, if a resident produces only the old PRC, why should that alone not be treated as the most genuine proof of one being a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir as by no logic, such a certificate obtained only after undergoing so many formalities can be treated as no proof. Besides, there are certain issues which need clarifications especially whether one would be addressed in the DC as per one’s residing address for the last 15 years as is the benchmark prescribed for school- college studying etc, or one’s original place of birth where one did not live for decades for various reasons. These issues, as is learnt, too come in the way in smoothly issuing of the Domicile Certificates. Online facility is too poor as responses from the concerned departments is awfully dismal.
However, in areas of putting out clarifications and issuing guidelines as also intensifying awareness in respect of issuing of the Domicile Certificates, much needs to be done. More stress is and should be ”after how many days” or within what maximum period could the Certificate be issued or rejected with reasons instead of being indecisive to the detriment of the applicant citizen. In most of the states, it is less than 7 days within which such a certificate is issued. In J&K UT, the Govt has now fixed time limit of five working days for issuing a Domicile Certificate which has been widely welcomed. Those personnel found delaying in issuing of the Domicile Certificates knowingly for whatever reasons should be made duly accountable to restore public confidence in the new citizenship policy in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
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