Key facts
- India revoked Article 370 and Article 35A, ending Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status and autonomy.
- The region was divided into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and placed under direct rule from New Delhi.
- New domicile rules were introduced, allowing individuals who lived in the region for 15 years or met other criteria to obtain domicile status.
- Over 1.25 million domicile certificates have been issued, with a significant number going to non-permanent residents.
- Changes to land ownership laws have eased restrictions on purchases by outsiders.
- Critics and residents argue these measures are leading to disenfranchisement and a demographic shift in the region.
Seven years after India revoked the special constitutional status of Indian-administered Kashmir, critics argue that changes to land ownership, residency laws, and governance are part of a deliberate strategy to alter the region's demographic and political landscape. The ruling BJP government's decision in August 2019 to repeal Article 370 and Article 35A, which granted Jammu and Kashmir autonomy, has led to the region being divided into Union Territories and placed under direct rule from New Delhi.
New domicile rules introduced by the government allow individuals who have resided in the region for 15 years, studied there for seven years, or served in certain central government positions to obtain domicile status. These changes, along with eased restrictions on land purchases, have resulted in over 1.25 million domicile certificates being issued, including many to individuals not previously considered permanent residents. Residents express concerns about massive disenfranchisement and outsiders gaining access to the region's resources, leading to increased economic inequality and a sense of estrangement from their land.
Article 370 had historically protected the Muslim-majority region's unique status, barring non-Kashmiris from owning land and regulating jobs to ensure local employment. The abrogation and subsequent policy changes are viewed by some as a form of 'settler colonialism,' aimed at restructuring control over land, political representation, and sovereignty. UN special rapporteurs have also warned that the fast-tracking of domicile certificates for outsiders risks deteriorating the human rights situation for native residents.