2G ‘big impediment’ in issuance of Domicile certificates in J&K, says officials

Srinagar: The 2G internet service has proven “big impediment” to issuance of Domicile certificates in J&K, officials said on Tuesday.
Local news gathering agency KNS reported that the issuance of domicile certificates in Jammu and Kashmir has cost heavy toll in official’s work they designated for, whose much time is being wasted per day in waiting OTPs and other related technical concern.
“Not only one, there are numerous hardships in issuing Domicile certificates in J&K. We are unable to contain all cases in a day due to absence of high-speed internet services across J&K”, an official wishing not to be named is reported to have said.
He said it is impossible to look, check and verify all cases in a day and then issue Domicile certificates to applicants because non-availability of high-speed internet services across J&K has hampered the system “absolutely”. He also said there are some technical issues which need quick technical response but what one can do when there is no access to 4G internet services.
“We can’t ignore technical issues like browsing, log in, downloading application form and then uploading photograph of the applicant. It takes minimum half-an-hour. Later on receiving OTP and uploading e-signatures also takes 20 minutes”, official said.
He added besides low speed technical services, there is one more problem of attaching a Tehslidar like official to a cheap job of receiving and checking OTPs. “A Tehsildar like official has been designated a vast field work but he has been confined to get OTP as his personal mobile number is attached with the issuance of Domicile certificates”, he said.
“The attachment of Teshildar level officer to OTPs has affected the work of Tehsil badly. Revenue affairs have got defunct since Tehsildar’s have been given task of getting OTPs”, he also said.
Due to non-availability of high-speed internet services and other technical issues, the concerned Tehsildar is unable to check all applications of the day. “At least 400 applications are receiving each Tehsildar in a day but due to 2G internet services and other technical related issues, only 10-15 percent applicants are being taken into account”, official added.
Notably authorities on August 4, 2019 hours before New Delhi scrapped special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and 35(A) snapped all communication services including broadband internet services in J&K as a “preventive measure” to maintain law and order. Besides calling facility on all cellular operators and low-speed internet services were restored after several months but 4G internet services are yet to be restored in J&K due to “security concerns” except Ganderbal and Udhampur where authorities allowed the facility a week ago on trial basis.
Another official said “We have to check spelling of name, parentage and other related columns so that an applicant doesn’t feel problem while applying for Government jobs or elsewhere. Also online portal remains overloaded and also repeated error appearing while log in.
He said though several offices are rich with broadband facility for the purpose but still there is pendency which has created “huge impediments” in issuing Domicile certificates.
On August 23, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) holders will also need Jammu & Kashmir Domicile certificate in order to apply for jobs and to get other benefits in the Union Territory.
Singh, Union minister for PMO, said an impression is being created in certain quarters that those holding PRC don’t need to apply for the domicile certificate in Jammu & Kashmir “which is not true”.
Singh, who hails from Jammu & Kashmir, appealed to all concerned not to be misled by such rumors.
The minister, however, said, those holding PRC of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir are eligible for receiving new Domicile certificate on the basis of PRC alone and such PRC holders shall not be required to produce any other additional document.