In Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has issued guidelines for the issuance of caste certificates to landless applicants in the Union Territory. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that the guidelines were issued by the Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department after the authorities received a large number of representations regarding the non-issuance of caste certificates to applicants who don’t own land. According to the guidelines, the landless applicants shall produce an extract of the electoral roll, Chullha-Bandi, or ration card before the concerned authority, i.e. the Tehsildar. Landless applicants in rural areas may also produce a certificate from the local Sarpanches, BDC/DDC members, or chairpersons, certifying that the beneficiary belongs to the SC/OBC caste and that their ancestors were/are residing in this village. However, in the case of towns/urban areas, a certificate from the local Corporator for the SC/OBC community, stating that the applicant’s ancestors belong to the SC/OBC community and have been residing in the particular place for a long period, may also be produced. After receiving the documents, it has been ordered that the Naib Tehsildar concerned shall conduct a camp inquiry, taking into account the statements of Lambardar/Chowkidar and other local members of the community, and will then submit a detailed inquiry report within the stipulated period of time to the competent authority, i.e., the Tehsildar, for the issuance of the caste certificate.