Srinagar: The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, announced amendment in land laws by paving the way for any citizen of India to buy land in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which hitherto was exclusively meant for permanent resident of J & K.
The government 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.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha told reporters that the amendments did not allow transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists.
However, there are several exemptions in the Act which enable transfer of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, including setting up of educational or health care facilities.
Reacting to the MHA notification, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Unacceptable amendments to the land ownership laws of 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.”