New Delhi: Thirty-four (34) people 'from outside Jammu and Kashmir' have bought properties in the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370, Lok Sabha was informed.
The Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Lower House of Parliament that these properties are located in Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur and Ganderbal districts.
The government sources have earlier dismissed suggestions that there were any impediments or hardships faced by non-residents of the UT who wanted to buy property in Jammu and Kashmir.
In August 2021, the Union Home Minister of State Nityanand Rai had stated that only two people from outside Jammu and Kashmir had bought properties in the union territory since August 5, 2019, when the Centre had scrapped the much talked about and controversial Article 370.
The issue of 'property rights in Kashmir' had acquired political colour and was much in public discourse post-abrogation of Article 370.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was one of the first eminent leaders who had hailed the decision of the central government to allow those outside Jammu and Kashmir to buy land and properties in Kashmir.
On August 5, 2019, the Union government also had nullified Article 35 (A), which prevented people who were not subjects of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from buying properties in J&K.
The Article also prevented women who married non-Kashmiris from holding on to their ancestral properties post-marriage.
