Parliament Budget Session: After the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the provisions of Article 35A were also abolished, due to which the special status enjoyed by the state ended. Section 35A itself prevented outsiders in the state from buying land in Jammu and Kashmir. During this time Ladakh was made a union territory. The government has given the details of land purchase here in the Parliament.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told in the Rajya Sabha that according to the information given from the Union Territory of Ladakh, during the last three years people from outside the Union Territory have not bought any land there. Whereas, as per the information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, a total of 185 persons from outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have purchased land in the Union Territory during the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
< p style ="text-align: justify;">Ladakh became a Union Territory in the year 2019
Ladakh became a Union Territory of India on October 31, 2019. Earlier, Ladakh was part of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Then in the year 2020, the central government changed the rules under which anyone can buy land in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. The Central Government had said that this order will be called the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmir Reorganization Third Order, 2020.
As per the information provided by the Union Territory of Ladakh, no land has been bought by persons from outside the UT during the last three years: MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2023
However, the government has placed a restriction on buying agricultural land. The center told that the cultivated land cannot be transferred to any non-agricultural person. However, certain exemptions have been given to allow agricultural land to be used for non-agricultural purposes. Like building an educational institute or health care center on agricultural land.
What was the law before?
In Jammu and Kashmir, before the removal of Article 370 and 35-A in August last year, a person who was not a resident of Jammu and Kashmir could not buy immovable property.
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