 Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 15: In a significant development, the Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee (JKSAC) has expressed satisfaction and heartfelt gratitude to Smt. Sakina Itoo, Hon’ble Minister for Social Welfare, for providing a much-needed clarification in the Legislative Assembly regarding the grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Pahari-speaking ethnic groups and Displaced Persons (DPs) of 1947 from POJK settled in Jammu, Kathua, and Samba districts.
The clarification, issued in response to a query raised by Dr. Narinder Singh, BJP MLA, emphasized that residential area is not a criterion for the issuance of ST certificates to the aforementioned communities. This statement has resolved the confusion that had been prevailing due to administrative misinterpretations and has paved the way for DPs to receive ST certificates, which were previously being denied by local Tehsildars in contradiction to existing legal provisions.
Speaking at the meeting, JKSAC President Gudev Singh, along with senior leaders Sh. Joginder Lal, Capt. Puran Singh Chib, S. Ajeet Singh, Sh. Dwarka Nath, and S. Tarlok Singh Tara, commended the efforts of Dr. Narinder Singh and made a fervent appeal to Smt. Sakina Itoo to issue an advisory to the concerned administrative officers for the strict implementation of the existing order.
Gudev Singh emphasized that JKSAC and other DP representatives have been consistently pressing the government to address their long-standing demands for legitimate recognition and rehabilitation. He underlined that despite suffering genocide and displacement, the DPs played a crucial role in defending the Indian side of J&K during the 1947 invasion and their sacrifices remain largely undocumented and unacknowledged.
Singh noted that the recent amendment in the J&K Scheduled Tribe Act, 1989, which included the Pahari-speaking ethnic group in the ST list under the SO-176 order dated 15-03-2024, brought a renewed hope to the DP community. The eligibility criteria, as outlined in Reservation Rule 2005 and related provisions, clearly justify the issuance of ST certificates to DPs, given their distinct linguistic, cultural, and traditional identity.
However, he expressed concern over the arbitrary rejection of several DP applications by Tehsildars without valid reasons, describing it as a violation of established legal orders and a source of undue harassment to the community.
The meeting concluded with a strong appeal to the Social Welfare Minister to issue clear directives to the district administrations to ensure timely issuance of ST certificates to eligible applicants, thereby ending the prolonged uncertainty and injustice faced by the displaced community. |
