OUTSIDERS CAN BUY LAND IN J&K

Subject : Polity

Context : The Union home ministry notified rules allowing outsiders to buy non-agricultural land in J&K more than a year after the region’s special status under Articles 370 and 35A was scrapped, and it was split into two Union territories.

Concept :

Background :

• People from outside the state were barred from buying or owning immovable property there, settle permanently, or avail themselves of state-sponsored scholarship schemes before the nullification of Article 35A, which gave special rights to the Jammu & Kashmir’s permanent residents.

Present Change :

• Central Government has amended Jammu and Kashmir Development Act by ommitting the phrase ‘ Permanent resident of the state ‘ , paving the way for everone to buy land. This act deals with the disposal of land in J&K
• The notification also substitutes the “whole of the State” with the “whole of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir”. It also notifies to omit “being permanent resident of the State”, paving the way for everyone to buy land.
• Lieutenant Governor has said that agricultural land has been reserved for farmers.