J&K to issue domicile certificates to husbands of native women

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 21

The Jammu & Kashmir administration has issued an order designating officials, who will be authorised to issue domicile certificates to the spouses of native women, who have married outside the UT. The order also details the process through which the documents can be acquired.

Officials designated

The admn has authorised tehsildars to issue domicile certificates

The deputy commissioner will be the appellate authority

“In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution, read with Section 15 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment Act, 2010, the government hereby grants domicile certificates to spouse of a domicile,” reads the order dated July 20. The administration has authorised tehsildars to issue such certificates against “valid proof of marriage” while a deputy commissioner (DC) will be the appellate authority for the same.

The spouse of a domicile certificate holder can get the certificate upon submission of certain documents, as a new clause has been added under the J&K Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020. Prior to August 5, 2019, husbands of local women married outside had no right to buy property or apply for jobs in J&K.

According to “J&K Grant of Domicile Certificate Procedure Rules-2020”, domicile certificates will be issued to all those having permanent resident certificates and their children living outside the UT. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh described the move as the dawn of a new era for the UT. In March 2021, the Centre had informed Parliament that as per J&K Government information, 35,44,938 applications for domicile certificates were received till December 31, 2020. Out of which 32,31,353 applicants have been issued the said documents.