Despite court rulings, people continue to face difficulty in CID clearance: M.Y. Tarigami

Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, a senior leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, highlighted that the process of obtaining a clearance from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) continues to create obstacles for many citizens despite several court judgments aimed at simplifying the procedure. The CID clearance is required for a range of activities, including government jobs, bank loans, and travel permits, and it involves a background check that can stretch over months. Over the past decade, courts have ordered the authorities to speed up the clearance and to remove cases that lack substantive evidence, yet the administrative machinery often remains slow.

Tarigami pointed out that in many instances the alleged offence dates back several decades, and the accused may have died long ago, but the record still blocks their relatives from accessing education, employment, or government benefits. Younger siblings and children find themselves denied scholarships, bank credit, or civil service positions because the clearance process flags a case that has never been adjudicated or has been closed without a formal exoneration. This lingering stigma creates a cycle of economic hardship, forcing families to rely on informal work or migrate to other states in search of livelihood.

For readers across India, the issue highlights a broader challenge in the country's security and welfare systems, where procedural delays can translate into real loss of opportunity for ordinary citizens. In regions with a history of political unrest, such as Jammu and Kashmir, the clearance becomes a gatekeeper that can affect social integration and economic development. Addressing the backlog and ensuring transparent review can help restore confidence in state institutions, reduce grievances, and allow a new generation to participate fully in the nation's growth.