Tuesday, August 9 2005 19:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has withdrawn its controversial order restricting the period of validity of Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) of unmarried women uptil their marriage.

The withdrawal of the January 2005 circular of the State revenue department was yesterday (Aug 8, 2005) communicated to the Jammu Bench of the state High Court by Additional Advocate General A H Qazi in connection with a Public Interest Litigation and contempt petition filed by Professor Hari Om.

A Division bench comprising Justice V K Jhanji and Justice Y P Nargotra disposing off the petitions observed that the Additional Advocate General had placed on record the copy of circular dated August 2, 2005 whereby the State Government withdrew its earlier orders stating that PRCs for unmarried women be "re-issued" after marriage to indicate if they had married a state subject or non-state subject.

"After withdrawal of the circular, the PIL/contempt petitions are rendered infructuous as such are disposed off," the Bench ruled.

Challenging the Government's January 2005 circular asking women to obtain fresh Permanent Resident Certificates after marriage, Dr Hari Om had submitted in the PIL that it was in violation of a three-year old High Court ruling on this issue.