The residents of Qaziabad and other areas of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Sunday complained of the inordinate delay by the authorities in issuing their domicile certificates.
The complaints expose the claims of the administration of simplifying the procedures for issuance of domicile certificates to the residents of J&K.
The residents complained that they were facing difficulties in getting the Domicile Certificate in both the online and offline mode.
“I have filled online application forms more than a month ago but I am yet to get the certificate from the authorities. Despite applying online for it, the authorities ask the recipient to physically visit the Tehsildar office which is time consuming,” an aggrieved resident said.
The residents said Kupwara was the only district where the applicants were being asked by the authorities to visit the office physically while in other districts the process was done online.
“Baramulla district produces the domicile certificates in a day. Their certificates are digitally signed by the concerned tehsildar. From registration to issuance of domicile certificate, the entire process is completed in no more than five hours,” another aggrieved resident said.
The residents expressed resentment against the authorities for lagging behind in upgrading the system and providing better services to the people.
“At the time of applying for the certificate, I was told by the authorities that the certificate will be issued within days but more than a month has passed yet my certificate is still under process,” said Khurshid Ahmad, a local. “The officials are making mockery of the online system by asking the residents to visit the offices to obtain their domicile certificates.”
Tehsildar Qaziabad, Syed Shahid told Greater Kashmir that the certificates were being issued to the applicants without any delay.
“For the convenience of the public, we try our best to issue the certificates without any delay,” he said.
On why the applicants were asked to visit the office despite having the provision of issuing the certificates online, the Tehsildar attributed it to the lack of infrastructure at the office.
“We don’t have adequate infrastructure at the office due to which the process of online applications gets a bit delayed. However, we still try to issue the certificates to the applicants without causing any inconveniences to them,” he said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Imam Din said that the issue would be looked into.
“I will take up the matter with the concerned tehsildars where people are complaining of delay in issuance of domicile certificates,” he said.