Srinagar, Aug 11: The Government of India (GOI) Wednesday informed the parliament that after the August 5, 2019 move in Jammu and Kashmir, all provisions of the constitution of India have been made applicable to the UT by bringing changes in existing laws of the erstwhile state.

Responding to the queries in the Parliament, the Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai said that after August 5, 2019, all provisions of the Constitution of India have been made applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which necessitated changes in existing laws in Jammu and Kashmir by Adaptation Orders so as to conform with the provisions of the Constitution of India.

“As per the adapted land laws of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government may, by notification in the official gazette, allow transfer of land, for public purposes such as education, charitable purpose and healthcare”, the Minister said. “”Under the Jammu and Kashmir Big Landed Estates Abolition Act, 1950, the land was transferred to the tillers. The Act also prescribed a limit to the right of ownership of 182 standard kanals (22.75 acres),” the minister informed.

He said that this Act has been repealed and there is another legislation i.e. the Jammu & Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, for transfer of land to tillers which is in force. “This Act prescribes ceiling restriction of 100 standard kanals (12.5 acres)”, the minister said.