Updated: October 27, 2020 10:17:43 pm
Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference Leader Omar Abdullah (Archive)
Hours after the Center amended laws allowing people from outside Jammu and Kashmir to buy land in the Union Territory, former Prime Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the government has put ” J&K for sale “and has removed” even the symbolism of domicile. “
More than a year after the special status of the then state of Jammu and Kashmir was eliminated on August 5, 2019, the Ministry of the Interior made several changes to land laws on Tuesday, including the use of agricultural land to establish facilities. for public use. .
In the recent amendment, the Center has omitted the phrase “permanent resident of the state” from Section 17 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act that deals with land disposal in UT, essentially allowing non-residents to purchase land there.
However, several exemptions from the Act allow the transfer of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, including the installation of educational or healthcare facilities.
Criticizing the new land laws, Abdullah said that the recently introduced JK Development Law, which has come into force with immediate effect, is “hostile to the interests of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
Unacceptable amendments to J&K land ownership laws. Even the symbolism of domicile has been removed when the purchase of non-agricultural land and the transfer of agricultural land have been facilitated. J&K is now for sale and the poorest small landowners will suffer.
– Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 27, 2020
He said that with these new laws, “the symbolism of the residence certificate has been eliminated, since the purchase of non-agricultural land has been facilitated. These new laws are unacceptable to the people of JK and Ladakh. “
Accusing the BJP of engaging in opportunistic politics, Omar said the issuance of the amended notice of the land rules smacks of cheap politics and deception.
“Interestingly, the Center waited until the LAHDC elections were concluded and the BJP won the majority before putting Ladakh up for sale as well. This is what Ladakhis achieved by relying on the guarantees of the BJP, ”he said.
The People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration (PAGD): an amalgamation of seven major parties in Jammu and Kashmir formed to restore the constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed before August 5, 2019 – he condemned the changes in land laws and promised to combat them on all fronts.
PDP Chairman Mehbooba Mufti, who has been elected PAGD Vice Chairman, said it was a step to “disenfranchise” the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
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“Yet another step that is part of GOI’s nefarious designs to disempower and disenfranchise the people of JK. From the unconstitutional scrapping of Article 370 to facilitating the looting of our natural resources and finally putting land up for sale in JK, ”he tweeted.
The government notice has replaced Section 30 and Part VII of the State Land Acquisition Act of 1990 with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013. The other laws Important ones repealed by the notification include the J&K Big Landed Inheritance (Abolition) Act, a landmark law introduced by Sheikh Abdullah that granted land rights to landless farmers.
The JK Land Alienation Act of 1995, the JK Common Lands (Regulation) Act of 1956 and the JK Property Consolidation Act of 1962 were also repealed.
Other laws to be repealed are the J&K Farm Fragmentation Prevention Act, 1960; JK Law of Prohibition of Land Conversion and Alienation of Orchards, 1975; the JK Prior Purchase Right Act, 1936 AD; Section 3 of the J&K Tenancy (Suspension of Removal Proceedings) Act of 1966; the JK Land Use Act, 2010; and the J&K Underground Services Act (Acquisition of User Rights to Land).
The notification also maintains that the government, at the written request of an Army officer not below the rank of Corps Commander, may declare an area a “strategic area” within a local area, only for operational and management requirements. direct training of the armed forces, which may be excluded from the operation of this Law and the rules and regulations that are dictated in the form and to the extent.
(PTI inputs)
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