The amended land laws for Jammu & Kashmir

On October 26, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced several amendments to land laws for the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir (J&K).

These Laws are the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act of 1970, , and the J&K Land Revenue Act, 1996.

Till now these laws entitled only permanent residents to purchase or sell property in the former State.

Remember the name of these two Acts.

What had happened Earlier

In August last year, the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and Article 35A was revoked.

Section 96 of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 empowers MHA to adapt and modify any law by way of repeal/amendment.
But before expiry of 1 year from the appointed day of the UT of J&K, which is October 31, 2019.

But also remember that The government can allow the transfer of agricultural land to a public trust for charitable work, healthcare, education, industrial or commercial purposes.

Also A Board of Revenue headed by a Financial Commissioner has been constituted.

A fresh clause defining “agricultural land” as land which is used or is capable of being used for agriculture and allied activities, including fallow land, has been inserted.

The amendment deletes the “permanent resident” provision in the 1970 Act .
It provided housing sites within the range of 25-30 square metres to permanent residents belonging to “economically weaker section” and “low income groups”.

Now, economically deprived people from all parts of the country will be eligible for such housing sites.

For Industries in Jammu and kashmir:-

• It also creates the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Development Corporation for establishing commercial centres and industries in the UT.
• The Corporation shall consist of twelve directors, four of whom could be nominated from the private sector with experience in “industry or trade or finance”.
• The Corporation will have the power to acquire movable and immovable property, and to lease, sell, exchange or transfer any property held by it.