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J-K Governor denies any move to change PRC rules

In a communication to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Governor Satyapal Malik made it clear that there was no move to make any changes to the rules governing the issuance of Permanent Resident Certificate given to J&K residents

J-K Governor denies any move to change PRC rules

J-K Governor Satyapal Malik sent a communication to former CM Omar Abdullah late on Sunday.

Governor Satyapal Malik has refuted the allegations that he was making structural changes to the procedure for issuance of the Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) to bonafide residents of Jammu and Kashmir. In a late evening communication on Sunday to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Malik made it clear that there was no move to make any changes to the PRC rules.

Omar Abdullah had during the day written a letter to the Governor urging him not to alter the PRC rules.

The Governor made it clear that the revenue department had asked the officers concerned to issue PRCs to genuine applicants within 30 days as was laid down in the Public Services Guarantee Act. There were reports of delay in issuance of the PRC as a result of which the applicants were suffering.

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Malik advised Omar not to pay heed to such rumours and instead as a senior politician he had the obligation to dispel rather than promote unnecessary mistrust among people.

READ | Omar Abdullah writes to Governor citing fears over change in PRC rules in J&K

Malik told Omar that “at the outset I would like to mention that the government is not making or even considering any changes to the Act governing PRC in the state. It is an integral part of the legal structure of Jammu and Kashmir and there is no attempt whatsoever to tamper with the law”.

The Governor said no changes in the procedural rules governing the issue of PR certificate will ever be done without larger consultations with all stake holders.

Omar later took to Twitter and said he was “pleased to note no changes are being proposed to the PRC certificate rules”.

He posted: “This is how a mature democracy functions – we flag our concerns with the person in authority & those concerns are addressed. When we can’t meet face to face we use technology. I’m grateful to @jandkgovernor Malik Sb for his timely & detailed reply.”

In a subsequent post, for the former chief minister added: “Malik Sb’s assurance of consultation with stake holders is an important one. I believe a regular mechanism of discussion/consultation will be beneficial to the state as we move closer to elections.”

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