New Delhi: The ministry of home affairs has informed the Lok Sabha that 34 persons from outside Jammu and Kashmir have bought properties in the Union territory after the abrogation of Article 370.
“These properties are located in Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur and Ganderbal districts in the UT,” said the ministry, according to the tweet news agency ANI.
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Seven plots of land were purchased by persons from outside the Union Territory of J&K, according to the MHA update to the Rajya Sabha in December, 2021. It is to be noted that before Article 370 and Article 35-A were repealed in 2019, non-residents were not allowed to buy any immovable property in J&K.
In October 2020, the ministry had issued a notification and amended the Land Revenue Act, paving way for people from other parts of the country to buy land in J&K, including agricultural land.
The J&K administration has also implemented a series of changes in the land laws, including use of private land for industrial reasons beconverting agriculture land for developmental projects.
Home minister Amit Shah, who participated in a debate in the House on August 5 in 2019, said no industry could be set up and tourism could not develop in the State because of restrictions on land purchase due to Articles 370 and 35A.
There are 12 states including Himachal Pradesh, which have provisions to regulate ownership and transfer of land under Article 371 of the Constitution. It is only permanent residents, defined by the Assembly, who were eligible to buy immovable property.
The law and order situation in J&K, particularly in Kashmir, has remained a barrier for many interested in purchasing properties in the region.