Delays in issuance of domicile certificates
*Performance of issuing authorities to be analyzed
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 22: Taking serious note of complaints regarding delays in the issuance of domicile certificates, the Chief Secretary of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has issued slew of directions to the Principal Secretary Revenue Department, Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners for strict compliance so that people don’t face difficulties in timely getting the vital document.
Moreover, the Chief Secretary has devised separate formats for monitoring of domicile certificates issuance on weekly basis and to assess the performance of all those officers who have been delegated powers for providing this document to the people.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam has received a number of complaints regarding delays and even the corruption in the issuance of domicile certificate, which is required by the citizens as per the conditions laid down by the Government to prove themselves as bonafide residents of J&K Union Territory, for applying to jobs and avail other privileges.
Taking serious note of such complaints, the Chief Secretary, through a communication, has asked the Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, both the Divisional Commissioners and all the 20 Deputy Commissioners to regularly monitor the issuance of domicile certificates and promptly address any issue creating hurdle in the exercise.
He has also devised separate formats for monitoring of issuance of domicile certificates. “The Chief Secretary wants all the Deputy Commissioners to monitor the issuance of domicile certificates in their respective jurisdictions. These formats are meant for compilation at the level of Divisional Commissioners and Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department”, sources said quoting the communication of the Chief Secretary.
He has also asked the Deputy Commissioners to have a similar format at the district level and Tehsildar wise and send periodic reports to the Divisional Commissioners and Principal Secretary Revenue Department. “Such reports are to be sent every week by Monday evening”, the Chief Secretary has further instructed the Deputy Commissioners.
On the basis of information from the Deputy Commissioners, the Divisional Commissioners and Principal Secretary Revenue will compile and send reports to the Chief Secretary every week on Tuesday morning. “The process of compilation of reports by the Deputy Commissioners as well as Divisional Commissioners has already been set into motion and first report is likely to be submitted to the Chief Secretary on Tuesday morning”, sources informed.
They further said, “the Chief Secretary has explicitly told the Divisional Commissioners, Principal Secretary Revenue Department and the Deputy Commissioners that the Government will not tolerate the delays in the issuance of domicile certificates”.
“On the basis of the formats devised by the Chief Secretary, the Government will also assess the performance of domicile certificates issuance authorities”, sources said, adding “the possibility of Government taking action against those officers who will be found slack in issuance of vital documents cannot be ruled out”.
Through these formats the Government will assess the number of applications received for issuance of domicile certificates and delays on weekly basis as officers have been asked to mention the delays of 1 to 7 days, 8 to 15 days and more than 15 days, sources said, adding “through the formats the Government will also come to know about the number of domicile certificates issued to PRC holding children, other residents, students, migrants and to the officials”.
“Moreover, the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to take innovative measures in their respective districts so that people are facilitated in getting domicile certificates preferably at their respective door-steps and in hassle free manner”, sources further informed.
It is pertinent to mention here that permanent residents of the erstwhile State of J&K in whose favour Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) has been issued by the competent authority before October 31, 2019 are eligible for receiving their domicile certificates on the basis of PRCs alone and no other additional document is required.
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