After backlash, Centre overturns rules on J&K government jobs
What's the story
In a dramatic turn of events, the BJP-led Centre changed rules pertaining to government jobs in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, merely days after introducing a monumental order. The new directive clarifies that only domiciles, who have lived for 15 years in the area, will be eligible for government jobs. The earlier order making jobs open-for-all has been scrapped. Here's more.
Context
Criteria for domiciles was changed, so was those for jobs
On Tuesday, almost eight months after abrogating Article 370, which allowed J&K to function under a separate set of rules, the Centre changed the criteria for domiciles. Further, the government said that anyone from the country could apply for high-level government jobs while reserving only positions like junior assistants and peons for locals. The jobs which were protected fall in the level-4 category.
Definition
So, how did the government define domicile?
A domicile is someone "who has resided for period of fifteen years in the UT of J&K or has studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10th/12th examination in an educational institution located in the UT of J&K", the order said.
Aftermath
With order, government invited flak; BJP's local unit fumed too
However, the new rule only brought criticism for the Centre, even from BJP's local unit. Slamming the order, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Altaf Bukhari said it was carried out "at a bureaucratic level without taking aspirations and expectations of people into consideration." And J&K Peoples Conference claimed the government had set on an "erroneous" path and doesn't want to rectify wrongs.
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Omar Abdullah felt it was an insult on injury
Similarly, former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of J&K, Omar Abdullah, said, "Insult is heaped on the injury when we see the law offers none of the protections that had been promised." To note, Abdullah was released from detention last month.
Flip
U-turn after criticism: Non-residents can't apply for jobs there
Backpedaling on the earlier order, the Centre issued a late-night notification on Friday underlining that government jobs will only be reserved for domiciles, making it off-limits for non-residents. However, the government didn't change the criteria of domiciles. "The amendment will satisfy all, as it was a demand from all parties of both regions," a senior official told NDTV.
Meeting
Reportedly, Bukhari had a word with Shah and Doval
As per Indian Express, Bukhari met Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Friday where he said the new order needed a modification. "It is very important for the party to get the order modified. Residents of J&K are fuming about this new order and they are blaming us," another JKAP leader said.
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JKAP seems happy with the changed order
Commenting on the late-night order, JKAP's senior leader Ashraf Mir said, "Nothing comes on a platter. You have to assert, then only will you be successful. We will do everything for the good of the people."