Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday rescinded its earlier order asking house owners in pre-dominantly Muslim-inhabited areas here to give details of their family members as well as tenants.
In a video message on social media, IGP (Jammu) Mukesh Singh said he has come across apprehensions among people in Bhatindi and Sunjwan areas regarding a verification exercise and admitted that it “is asking for more data than that is required”. Allying apprehensions, he said the Jammu SSP “has been asked to immediately rectify the format” which he claimed is meant for tenant verification in the “entire Jammu district”.
Police had circulated two forms in the areas — one for tenants and the other concerning “house owner verification”. Trouble arose as police knocked at the doorsteps to collect details of house owners and family members, besides tenants.Sheikh Shakeel, a senior advocate, said collecting details of tenants is understandable due to the law and order scenario but referred to the Supreme Court judgment on privacy to object to collection of details of family members. He asked how the details, which are already with the government in one form or another, will not land in the wrong hands.
