Tarigami moves SC against order on land purchase in J&K

In his plea, Tarigami contended that the government’s power to make such laws comes from the “Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 which in itself is unconstitutional” and hence the notification is also without force of law.

The plea said the amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970, made through the notification, will allow any non-resident to buy agricultural land and to use it for non-agricultural/commercial purpose with the permission of the government.

He submitted that agriculture and allied sectors continue to be the predominant source of livelihood for more than 70 per cent of J&K’s population and contribute nearly 50 per cent to Gross Domestic State Product. “However, over the past two decades, agricultural land in Jammu and Kashmir has been shirking as a result of diversion of agricultural land for rapid urbanisation. It has also come to light that agricultural focus has gradually shifted from cultivation of foodgrains,” he said.

“The present amendment will only create a situation where the said change in land use for commercial purposes is accelerated thereby forcing the people of Kashmir to shift from agriculture. Gradually, Jammu and Kashmir will have to rely on other states for its food demands as agriculture will no longer be preferred, which is not in the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Tarigami said in his plea.