New Delhi: In a move that will have far reaching effect on the demographic structure in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Government of India has notified land laws, paving the way for any citizen of India to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its release stated that the order will be called the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020.
The order comes into force with immediate effect. The General Clauses Act, 1897 applies for the interpretation of this Order as it applies for interpretation of laws in force in the territory of India, the order stated.
With the annulment of Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir, the act re-constituted the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ and ‘Ladakh’.
Earlier in September 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir administration amended the Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020.
The Union Home Ministry issued gazette notification repelling four laws that dealt with land related issues and amended the Jammu and Kashmir development act. In section 2 of the act, sub clause (I), (ii), (iii) and (IV) have been amended. “In clause (da) (a) omit ,” being permanent resident of the state and (b) for 4.5 meters X10 square meter of floor areas of about 50 square meters in case of flattened accomodation,” substitute “as may be prescribed,” the notification stated.
The notification issued by MHA also said that the government can now, on the written request of an Army officer not below the rank of Corp Commander, declare an area as Strategic Area within a local area, only for direct operational and training requirements of armed forces, which may be excluded from the operation of this Act and rules and regulations made there under in the manner and to the extent.
The government also can allow transfer of land in favour of a person or an institution for the purpose of promotion of healthcare or senior secondary or higher or specialised education after the new notification. (KNT)
