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People as well as investors outside Jammu and Kashmir can now purchase land in the Union Territory (UT) 

Centre notifies new land laws for the region, ending the exclusive rights of locals over the land granted under now abrogated Article 370.

Changes

• The MHA has amended sections of the J&K Land Revenue Act, 1996 and the J&K Development Act of 1970.
• The 1996 Act pertains to management of agricultural land and the 1970 Act deals with zonal development plans determining land use for public buildings, roads, housing recreation, industry, business, markets, schools, hospitals and public and private open spaces.
• As per the amendment to the Land Revenue Act, anyone from any part of the country can now buy land in J&K, including agricultural land.
• Though the amendments prohibit sale, transfer, mortgage and conversion of agricultural land to a non-agriculturist in the UT, it can still be allowed,
• The government can allow the transfer of agricultural land to a public trust for charitable work, healthcare, education, industrial or commercial purposes.
• A fresh provision has been added, by which the government, on the written request of an Army officer not below the rank of a Corps Commander, may declare an area as a “strategic area” for direct operational and training requirements of the armed forces.

Source: The Hindu