Srinagar, Nov 30: Stating that the Central government is taking every step to restore ancestral properties of migrant Hindus, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Tuesday informed the parliament that a total of 1678 migrants have returned to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 for taking up jobs.

In the winter season of parliament, queries were raised regarding the migrant Hindus which include the measures taken to restore ancestral properties and the cases where the property has been restored.

The Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Nityanand Rai replied to the queries raised in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The MoS  informed that the Government has taken various measures to restore ancestral properties to migrant Hindus. Under the J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection & Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, District.

The Minister said that the Magistrates (DMs) of concerned Districts in Jammu & Kashmir are the legal custodians of the immovable properties of Migrants, who take suo motto action on eviction proceedings in cases of encroachment.

“The migrants can also request DMs in such cases”, the minister said in the reply.

He informed that the DMs are further empowered to take all steps for the preservation and protection of such properties.

“As per the information provided by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, after the abrogation of Article 370, a total of 1678 migrants have returned to Kashmir for taking up the jobs under the Prime Minister’s Development Package-2015”, the Union Minister informed the parliament.

He also informed that as per the information provided by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, the land of 150 applicants has been restored.

He further said that the Government of J&K has launched a portal on 07.09.2021 to address the grievances of Kashmiri Migrants in this regard.