Centre, Ladakh reach understanding over domicile requirements

Srinagar, May 25: In a significant development, the Union Government and leadership of Ladakh have reached an understanding on domicile requirements in the Union Territory.
The understanding over eligibility criteria for domicile status in Ladakh UT was reached during a meeting chaired by Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai in New Delhi on Tuesday morning.
Sources said that both the sides have agreed that a person will be required to live in Ladakh for a continuous period of 15 years from 2019 onwards to qualify as domicile of Ladakh.
Chief Executive Councilor, Hill Council, Kargil Dr. Jaffar Akhoon said the issue of domicile has been settled for recruitment purposes.
“We forcefully pushed for a 30- year continuous residency in Ladakh as a requirement for domicile status. We have been assured that the demand would be examined,” he said, adding that a person would be required to live in Ladakh for a period of 15 years, prospectively from 2019, to be eligible for domicile status.
He said they told the Central Government representatives that “The Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) shouldn’t be extended to Ladakh UT.
“We told them that they should either create a separate cadre for Ladakh or make it part of the cadre of J&K or any other neighbouring state,” he said.
While natives of Ladakh- erstwhile state subjects of Jammu & Kashmir living in twin districts of Leh and Kargil- would have exclusive rights over 95 percent jobs, five percent jobs would be open for domiciles. (KNO)