J&K HC directs state govt to extend PM’s job package to Kashmiri Pandits

SRINAGAR: A single bench headed by Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar of the Jammu and Kashmir high court has directed the state government to consider the plea of valley based Kashmiri Pandits to extend the Prime Minister's package for creation of three thousand government jobs in line with the package for members of other communities.
Kashmir Pandit Sangarash Samiti (KPSS), through Sanjay Kumar Tickoo, had filed a writ petition before the state high court, asking for the share in government jobs for members of the KP community in the valley.
Justice Ramalingam on May 31, 2016 allowed the writ petition with 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, said Tickoo, president of the Samiti.
The KPSS had filed the petition on 30.12.2013, challenging the SRO 412 dated 30.12.2009, with a request that the five hundred and sixty one (561) valley based Kashmiri Pandit community members be included and allowed to apply for jobs and rehabilitation in the package announced by then prime minister Manmohan singh.
The high court on May 31, 2016 has directed the state government to consider the claim of the petitioners in accordance with the rules and to take a decision preferably within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of the order.
"The order given by the court vindicates the struggle of the Kashmiri Pandits represented by the 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 for many years," Tickoo said in a statement here.
According ot Tickoo, the valley based Kashmiri Pandits are scheduled to meet at a general body meeting on Sunday at Shri Sidhi Vinayak Mandir, Ganpatyar, Habba Kadal, Srinagar to discuss the future course of action for settlement and rehabilitation of the left-out Kashmiri Pandits.
Tickoo said the KPSS is hopeful that the Centre as well as state government would separate 561 posts for the Kashmiri Pandits who chose to live in the valley facing many challenges to their existence in the last 26 years.
Interestingly, the state government in a reply to an RTI application of one Vijay Sas of Habba Kadal here has already admitted that it has approved funds for the additional 3000 state government jobs meant for the members of the KPs who stayed back here despite outbreak of militancy.
The state high court, according to Sanjay Tickoo, has mainly relied on this reply and directed the state government to consider the plea of the KPSS.