The contentious issue of defining domicile, which ate up almost the entire day’s proceedings of the ongoing budget session of the Assembly on Wednesday, would in all likelihood fall in the laps of local elected bodies, i.e. Gram Sabhas.
The committee, constituted by the State Government, has finalised most of the modalities involved in drafting the policy for the State that also included looking beyond 1932’s khatiyan.
Sources privy to the development and also part of the elongated eight-member policy drafting panel confided to The Pioneer that the idea was not just to stick to any single criteria for identifying locals and instead have a bouquet of those to make it inclusive and widely acceptable.
“The effort is serious this time. We have identified some principles which the draft policy would be based upon. Mukhiyas would be given sole power to identify and certify whether anyone is domicile or otherwise. Instead of strictly adhering to khatiyans (old land records) we are looking to criteria like period of residing in Jharkhand, birth place, educational records, schooling etc. If any one of these criteria is fulfilled the person would be considered domicile,” said a source. Earlier, the three-member committee the Government formed to find a way out, which swelled to eight, was to meet on February 25 to prepare the final report but agreed to defer it to March 4. Need for wider consultation with the experts like Advocate General and others was felt and the Government justified the deferment citing the sensitivity of the issue both socially and politically.
“What the panel is trying to ensure that the report and decision based on it has minimal scope to be defeated in a court of law and also considered a win-win for all stakeholders. It is also ensured that the policy is not labeled or perceived as tribal card by the Government,” said a leader present in the meeting.
View of the committee is also that reserved category candidates are getting benefits in the jobs as per reservation provisions and the policy should also speak about those who belong to unreserved categories. “A large number of residents belong to the State but do not get reservation. These people should be made eligible for class III and IV category jobs. The committee is also thinking to keep this category of jobs aside for locals only,” said he.
Meanwhile, the Assembly, after the committee deferred the report, saw a series of adjournments on Wednesday when members of not only the Opposition, BJP and JVM but also from JMM and Congress demanded clarification from the Government. Independent Bandhu Tirkey, also extending support to the Hemant Soren Government, called a rally on Wednesday on that very issue. Finance Minister Rajendra Singh informed the agitating members that most of the issues have been sorted out. “We have discussed host of issues and opinions of law experts have been sought. The committee would be meeting onMarch 4 and submit a report to the Government.”
Though, the members smelt a rat into all this. “The Government has lost faith of its own members and should resign. Had it been serious, it would have published its opinion and sought feedback from people. The exercise is just to linger the issue as model code of conduct would come into force in next few days,” said JVM legislature party leader Pradeep Yadav.