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JAMMU: While welcoming LG Govt’s decision dated 16.08.2024 providing for conferment of proprietary rights of evacuee lands (custodian) in favour of Displaced Persons of 1947, 1965, 1971 and West Pakistani Refugees Ankur Sharma, Spokesperson BJP J&K while addressing a Press Conference today at BJP Headquarters Jammu along with Balbir Ram Rattan and YV Sharma (Spokespersons), BJP, strongly pressed for grant of proprietary rights in favour of Local Allottees of evacuee lands both Rural & Urban be it Agricultural, Residential Commercial, Mixed or any other type which he termed as a “major responsibility of the Omar led UT Govt”. Conferment of proprietary rights in favour of DPs and WP Refugees was the first step.
The follow up and second step of incorporating Local Allottees should be walked by the Omar Govt without any delay. The move he said will empower farmers, middle class, marginalised and disadvantaged sections of the society. Local Allotees are largely Local Dogras of Jammu Province who have been allotted or given possession of evacuee lands under Cabinet Order 578-C, Govt Order LB-7 and Govt Order Reh 371 of 1971 read along with Second Schedule of Agrarian Reforms Act. He also demanded implementation of order dated 16.08.2024 in favour of Displaced persons and West Pakistani Refugees in a time bound manner.
It is worthwhile to mention that the total number of Evacuees properties mostly located in Jammu Province are 2,56,846 of which the Urban properties are 7161. The total market value of these properties run into several thousands of Crores.
Ankur Sharma further pressed for grant of proper compensation in favour of Local allottees of those evacuee lands which have been acquired by the Governments for public purpose in the past. Further explaining Mr. Sharma said that under the current legal regime, nearly 80% of the total compensation should be paid to the allottees however, it is seen that the collectors in many cases especially in case of local allottees do not transfer the compensation amount of acquired lands in favour of allottees. The interests of allottees and legitimate occupants whose allotted lands have been acquired should be protected by paying them just compensation.
The Operating Expense Ratio (OER) incurred by the Custodian department is so high that it betrays common sense to justify its existence said Ankur Sharma. Further elaborating on OER, he said that the cost to operate Custodian Property in comparison to the income it generates is quite high and the department is like an ‘Overhead’ to the State Exchequer. He further said that Custodian’s continuous existence is costing an arm and a leg.
Mr. Sharma also said that while The J&K State Evacuee’s (Administration of Property) Act, defines Evacuees as persons belonging to four categories, almost entire evacuee property comes under its second category which defines evacuee as a person who crossed over to Pakistan in support of the creation of Pakistan. 75 Years post independence having a department for protecting and managing properties of those who driven by Two Nation Theory stood for Pakistan and crossed over, betrays all common sense.
He further made it clear that once PoJK is taken back from illegal occupation of Pakistan, the issue of Hindu-Sikh evacuee property left back in PoJK could also be settled properly. Mr. Sharma demanded that the Evacuee property Act should be repealed to the extent of doing away with the legal regime of Custodian to Custodian General and for the intervening period, a Relief Commissioner of the rank of Commissioner/Secretary to the Government who should not be less than a Senior IAS officer or Senior most JKAS Officer from the persecuted community only should be created to adjudicate issues related to conferment of ownership rights/earlier allotments.
In the Press Conference YV Sharma Spokesperson also expressed his opinion and said that central Government through LG has already cleared the way for giving permanent proprietary rights to the Displaced Persons of residing in JK UT. He added that it would save lot of revenue as administration is bearing with lot of expenditure on their maintenance. Sharma hoped that the present Govt will waste no time in implementing this scheme as it will generate lot of good will throughout the UT.
