“J&K is now up for sale”

Srinagar: In a significant move, the Centre has notified land laws, paving the way for any citizen if India to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. 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.

The order comes into force with immediate effect. The General Clauses Act, 1897 applies for the interpretation of this Order as it applies for interpretation of laws in force in the territory of India, the order stated.

Reacting to the government’s order, National Conference Omar Abdullah expressed happiness over the amendments. In a sarcastic comment, Abdullah claimed that “J&K is now up for sale”.

“Unacceptable amendments to the land ownership laws 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,” Abdullah tweeted.

With the abrogation of Article 370, the act re-constituted the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ and ‘Ladakh’.