SRINAGAR: In a major decision, the State Administrative Council under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday approved repeal of the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001, (commonly known as Roshni scheme).
The crucial meeting attended by B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai & KK Sharma, besidesChief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to the Governor, Umang Narula.
As per Indian Express reports, the government has stated that the Act has failed to realise its objectives and there were reports of misuse.
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As per the government’s order, “All pending proceedings under the Act shall stand cancelled immediately and abate,” an official release said. “However, the SAC (State Administrative Council) directed that any action taken under the provisions of the repealed Act shall not be invalid,” it said.
The Roshni scheme was enacted in 2001 by the the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Congress-PDP coalition government with the twin objective of generating resources for financing power projects and confer proprietary rights to the occupants of the state land.
Chairman of IkkJutt Jammu Advocate Ankur Sharma who filed Public Interest Litigation told reporters, “The repeal of Roshni Act is undoubtedly a spectacular victory of the Nationalist forces across the Nation who were deeply concerned over the ongoing demographic invasion on the strategic Jammu Province through Legislation.”