Kashmiri Hindus Face Identity Barrier In PM Scheme For Kashmiri Pandits

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court dismissed a petition that sought to include Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs into the Prime Minister's jobs scheme for Kashmiri Pandits

For Navjot Kumar, it's a fight over identity to get a government job in Jammu and Kashmir. A court ruling that he's not a Kashmiri Pandit has shattered his dreams. Like Mr Kumar, over two dozen Hindus living near the Line of Control in Uri sector had qualified for a job under the Prime Ministers special employment package for Kashmiri Pandits.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, however, dismissed a petition on Tuesday that sought to include Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs into the jobs scheme for Kashmiri Pandits.

The court said every Hindu resident of Kashmir valley is not a Kashmiri Pandit as Pandits have their separate identity and other Hindu castes cannot be treated as Kashmiri Pandits.

"Jammu and Kashmir administration denied us the right (to jobs scheme) on the grounds that Kashmiri Hindus, Rajputs and Kshatriyas do not fall under the Kashmiri Pandit category. The court was our only hope, but the decision was not in our favour," said Mr Kumar, a Kashmiri Hindu.