561 Kashmiri Pandit Youth Can Now Get Government Jobs
After 26 long years, our legal rights have been recognised and this will also slowly signal an end to migration, says Sanjay K. Tickoo, president of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) to Sabrangindia.
In a step that is being viewed as one that will actively and constructively prevent further migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, the high court of Jammu and Kashmir at Srinagar has directed that 561 resident Kashmiri Pandit youth must be employed by the state government with immediate effect. Essentially, through this high court order, the rehabilitation package of the Prime Minister’s package has been extended to all 651 families resident of the state.
The Kashmir Pandit Sangarash Samiti (KPSS), which is the representative body of Valley based Kashmiri Pandits has welcomed the decision, enthusiastically. Sanjay Tickoo, president of the KPSS, speaking to Sabrangindia has hailed the verdict and said that this order, delivered on May 31, 2016 is historic as it for the first time in 26 years recognises the rights of Pandits who have stayed back in the valley.
A writ petition, 1986/2013 titled 'Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samiti and others Vs. Union of India and others', had been filed on December 30, 2013, in which the KPSS had challenged the SRO 412 dated December 30, 2009 and further prayed that 561 Pandit youth be included in the PM’s Package and be entitled to apply for jobs and rehabilitation.
In an order delivered on May 31, 2016, the J&K High Court has admitted the petition filed by the KPSS in respect to extension of the 'PM’s Package' for jobs and rehabilitation to the Kashmiri Pandits who did not leave the Valley following the exodus of majority of their community members.
A general meeting of the organisation will meet and celebrate the verdict at the Shri Sidhi Vinayak Mandir, Ganpatyar, Habba Kadal, Srinagar on June 5, 2016 to discuss the future course of action for settlement and rehabilitation for those Kashmiri Pandits who have been left out of the rehabilitation process in Kashmir Valley. The State Government has been given six weeks to respond to the high court order.
The order given by the J&K High Court, vindicates the struggle of the Valley based Kashmiri Pandits represented by Kashmir Pandit Sangarash Samiti (KPSS). It is a shot in the arm for us in our ongoing engagement with the State for the rights of Valley based Kashmiri Pandits, who suffer precarious existence due to the ongoing conflict since many years.
Kashmir Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) is very much hopeful that the Centre as well as State Government will separate 561 posts for Valley based Kashmiri Pandits who chose to live in Kashmir Valley facing many challenges to their existence in the last 26 years. We have forwarded the said judgment to the concerned authorities, as such, we urge the State Government that it will process the matter without any delay or excuse within a period of six weeks as per the directions of Hon’ble High Court. Saleem Gupkari, advocate appeared for the organisation in its long battle for recognition and rehabilitation.