Countrymen allowed to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir, government imple

New Delhi: Following the abrogation of Article 370, the government took a major decision to change residency rules governing Jammu and Kashmir. The government has taken another decision to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act. While amending the act, the words, Permanent Resident of the State, have been omitted, which makes anyone from the country eligible to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir.

Till now, no one from outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir was allowed to buy land or property, in Jammu and Kashmir. Till August last year, Jammu and Kashmir was enjoying the status of a special state. But the special status was withdrawn with the abrogation of Article 370. The state was divided into two union territories, namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Now the union laws and regulations are applicable in the union territories.

Before this, changes were effected in the rules governing the resident status in the union territories. According to the new rules, blocks were cleared for anyone living in the state for more than 15 years and/or studying in the state for seven years to be issued a resident certificate. Before this, these people were not considered residents of Jammu and Kashmir, owing to the special status awarded to the state. But now, after these changes to the residency rules, people in these categories are receiving resident certificates, and employment opportunities are also becoming available to them in the union territory. They also have become eligible to buy property in the union territory. Nearly 1.9 million resident certificates have been issued till September.

Now the government has cleared the path for residents of other states to purchase land in Jammu and Kashmir. The words, ‘Permanent Resident of the State,’ have been omitted from the Jammu-Kashmir Development Act. The change has been made under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act. Therefore, now people from outside the state can buy land and property in Jammu and Kashmir. Land can be purchased to build factories. Land can also be purchased to build houses and shops. There is no requirement of producing a resident certificate for this purpose.

The order has been implemented on an immediate basis. A similar act has been passed even for Ladakh. A gazette notification to that effect was issued on Tuesday. The act is applicable to agricultural and non-agricultural land. But the agricultural land cannot be sold to anyone other than a farmer. But at the same time, provisions have been made for the use of agricultural land for non-agricultural use. This conversion is possible for building educational and medical institutions.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, said that this decision would help in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Sinha clarified that decisions were needed to make industry and investment come to Jammu and Kashmir from outside. But the political parties from Jammu and Kashmir are opposing this decision.