POJK Refugee Cell submits memorandum to Sat Sharma on key issues of the community
23/02/2026
Jammu, February 23 (KIP)-Jammu Kashmir BJP POJK Cell State Convenor Balvinder Singh Soodan, on Monday, submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting pressing issues of the PoJK Displaced Persons (DPs) of 1947 to BJP J&K State President and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Sat Sharma CA.
The memorandum was presented in the presence of party leaders Balbir Ram Rattan and Bawa Sharma.
The memorandum urges to take up these long-pending matters at the appropriate forums, including the Rajya Sabha, to ensure justice and uniform implementation of statutory provisions affecting the displaced community.
One of the key concerns raised pertains to the non-uniform issuance of Pahari ST-2 certificates. As per The Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act, 2024 and S.O. 176 of 2024, the Pahari Ethnic Group has been granted Scheduled Tribe status on the basis of ethnicity and not geographical location, applicable across the entire Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. However, the Cell pointed out that district-level implementation remains inconsistent, with eligible applicants from districts such as Jammu and Kathua reportedly facing rejection.
The memorandum highlighted instances where members of the same family have been treated differently based solely on their place of residence. In some cases, one sibling residing in Poonch has been granted the ST certificate, while another residing in Jammu has been denied the same benefit despite identical ancestry and documentation. The Cell emphasized that ethnicity is determined by cultural and linguistic heritage, not district boundaries, and differential treatment defeats the legislative intent.
Another major issue raised is the regularization of DP colonies and bastis established after 1947. Despite decades of continuous occupation, these settlements remain unregularized, lacking formal land titles and revenue records. This has restricted residents from undertaking lawful construction, accessing institutional loans, and availing welfare schemes.
The memorandum also called for conferment of ownership rights over Custodian Properties occupied by PoJK DPs for several decades. Referring to the 2003 judgment of the Hon’ble J&K High Court in Distt. Sharnarthi Action Committee v. Union of India & Ors., the Cell stressed that displaced families are entitled to ownership rights and must not be treated as second-category citizens.
The Cell urged immediate directions to ensure uniform issuance of Pahari ST-2 certificates, review of pending and rejected applications, early regularization of DP colonies, and formal conferment of proprietary rights over Custodian Properties, thereby restoring legal certainty and dignity to the displaced community.
Sat Sharma CA, expressing sympathies with the community, assyred to raise the issues at appropriate platforms.