West Pakistani Hindu Refugee Front (WPHRF) has urged upon the State authorities to resolve the issues of refugees from West Pakistan.
In a meeting of the members of the Front held at Arnia (Bishnah), the members discussed various issues and grievances of the West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) relating to permanent residentship, cash reliefs, scholarship, reservation in Central Govt jobs and Domicile certificate till WPRs are considered as permanent residents of the State.
They said these issues need to be addressed by the Central Govt immediately to provide justice and equality to the WPRs. The meeting was headed by Sub Major Madan Lal Dubgotra (Retd), chairman of the Front.
The chairman said West Pak Refugees are those Hindus who were migrated from Pakistan on partition of India and are residing in Jammu region of J&K State since 1947. They are still not considered as permanent residents of J&K State and are debarred from all human and fundamental rights being considered as non- residents of J&K in accordance with Section 6 of Constitution of J&K (Amendment Act) 1965. As per Section 6 of Constitution of J&K, all those including Muslims migrated to Pakistan on partition of India during 1947, are Permanent residents of J&K. But the Hindus migrated from Pakistan due to partition of India are not considered as Permanent resident of State.
He said Article 35- A, which allows the J&K Govt to define who will be the Permanent residents of the State was included in the Constitution 14 May 1954 through a Presidential order and accordingly definition of Permanent Residents was included in the Constitution of &K which was promulgated on January 26, 1957, by such time the WPRs had almost completed 10 years residing in the State and were to be treated as Permanent residents. But the State Govt did not consider these WPRs as permanent residents of State, which is a gross violation of Fundamental and Human Rights, Dabgotra added.

Courtesy;Daily Excelsior,Jan28,2019