Arun Joshi

It must have been disconcerting for Governor Satya Pal Malik to find out that even “frivolous and unfounded reports” about routine administrative matters become consequential in Kashmir.

The routine administrative matter to do away with the avoidable delays in the issuance of the Permanent Resident Certificates to genuine applicants became a controversy, threatening the fragile regional and communal relations in the state.

He did well to clear the air, saying that there was no proposal to change the state subject law. Had his administration done so before National Conference vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote him a letter on Sunday, the chances of the issue rolling into a controversy would have been minimal.

The PRC is mandatory for the hereditary residents of Jammu and Kashmir to prove their citizenship and obtain their rights from the cradle to the grave. Some recent reports gave rise to apprehensions that the government attempted to ease PRC procedures to change the Muslim-majority character of the state.

Ever since Malik took over as Governor of the state, there has been a regular flow of controversies. The dissolution of the Assembly on November 21 when the rival alliances had staked claim to form the government gave rise to questions about the timing and intention behind the move. Now every move is viewed with suspicion, particularly so by Kashmir-based groups from the mainstream as well as separatist camps.

This time Omar’s letter expressing his concern over any attempt to change the PRC rules, gave the Governor an opportunity to put things in a proper perspective. But the possibility of chaos and confusion persist still, though the clarification, if trusted, can make a difference in this state where regional and communal polarisation is quite high.

Malik’s assertion that the PRC Act is “an integral part of the legal structure of Jammu and Kashmir and there is no attempt whatsoever to tamper with this law,” should help in removing the doubts. It all depends how the groups in Kashmir view it.

In recent years, the hereditary permanent residents living in the plains of the Jammu region have been facing difficulty in getting this certificate. There have been complaints of undue delays and procedural wrangles in the issuance of these certificates.

The Governor clarified that “it is in this context of having a hassle-free process for bona fide applicants that I believe the Revenue Department has sought comments from few others. This is a routine administrative matter and unnecessary meanings should not be read into it.”

The state is predominantly Muslim. Fears of Muslims have deepened ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre and sent contradictory messages on the special status of the state guaranteed under Article 370 of the Constitution.

The Governor also delivered a political advice to Omar which, in fact, applies to all leaders in Kashmir: “Do not to pay heed to such frivolous and unfounded reports. In fact, you have an obligation to dispel rather than promote unnecessary mistrust among people.”

If they heed this advice, curtains would automatically come down on such controversies.

Courtesy: The Tribune, Dec 04,2018