SRINAGAR: Under the new law that was implemented in Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect, anybody who is a resident of India can purchase land.
Unacceptable amendments to the land ownership laws of J&K. Even the tokenism of domicile has been done away with when purchasing non-agricultural land & transfer of agricultural land has been made easier. J&K is now up for sale & the poorer small land holding owners will suffer.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 27, 2020
The law – Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020, promulgated by the Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to add to the tensions in coming days. “With immediate effect, the Acts mentioned in the Schedule to this Order shall, until repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority, have an effect, subject to the adaptations and modifications directed by the said Schedule, or if it is so directed, shall stand repealed,” it said.
Under the new order that repealed most of the existing orders in vogue and amendments, a few have been now allowing purchasing land by anyone as there is no mention of domicile or permanent resident certificate.
Reacting to the development, Omar Abdullah said the new land laws are unacceptable. “J&K is now up for sale & the poorer small landholding owners will suffer,” Omar wrote on Twitter. “Even the tokenism of domicile has been done away with when purchasing non-agricultural land & transfer of agricultural land has been made easier.”
In a presser, the reporters asked Lt Governor Manoj Sinha about the new laws and he justified by saying that this was important for developing industries. “Agricultural land will be protected, however, we also want that like other parts of India, industries should be set in Jammu and Kashmir as well,” Sinha said.
