'Who are non state subject beneficiaries of J&K domicile certificates'

Srinagar, Sep 2 Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted to know who have been the non state subject beneficiaries of domicile certificates in the union territory. He demanded a 'white paper' on the issue.

"The J&K UT has explained its position that of the 12.5 lakh Domicile Certificates issued by it, 99 per cent of the beneficiaries happened to be the permanent residents of the state. However, the people would like to know as to who constituted the crucial remaining one per cent of the beneficiaries?" Soz asked.

He said the people of J&K are entitled to know the particulars of the persons who were not permanent residents, yet they got the Domicile certificates.

He said the J&K UT Administration has said that these certificates have been issued for jobs only, it means that the UT Administration has no objection to giving the Domicile Certificates to non-state subjects also.

"Since the UT Administration has issued the Domicile Certificates to such a big number in hot haste, the process must have involved recklessness of sorts," he said.

He said the perception of the people is that the UT Administration is a stopgap arrangement and that the Centre should not have amended the Domicile Law in the absence of the public support.

"I urge the J&K UT Administration to issue a 'white paper' indicating particulars of those who are not state subjects, yet they got the certificates. That procedure alone can allay the fears of the people of the state," he said.

( With inputs from IANS )