In a major development, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday has launched a portal for the Kashmiri Pandits to reclaim their properties that were left behind. The decision regarding the properties comes nearly a month after the J&K administration ordered the full implementation of the Immovable Property Act for the Kashmiri Pandits. The implementation was ordered by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on August 13.

The latest decision taken by the administration has been taken to ensure the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Union Territory. This also comes as another major decision by the administration after the abrogation of Article 370. During the exodus, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits had to leave behind their properties in the erstwhile state which were later encroached or sold at throwaway prices. 

In 1997, the government of Jammu and Kashmir had brought in the J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sale) Act, 1997 for preventing distress sale of properties belonging to migrants who were forced to leave in the aftermath of terrorism in the Valley. The services through the portal will be applicable to all migrants irrespective of their faith.

As per government data, 44,167 families are officially registered as Kashmiri migrant families. Those who are not registered as Kashmiri migrants but have fled from the Valley are also eligible to register their complaints on the portal, said a government official.

“Following complaints that despite the provisions of the Act, little has been done by way of restoring rights or preventing distress sales, the government has decided to launch the portal to allow all those who migrated to lodge their complaints and these will be addressed in a time bound manner,” said the official.

The administration has also ensured that it would take timely action against any violation of the Act, including respect to religious properties, besides ensuring eviction, custody and restoration of such properties. The step is being taken to stop the possible encroachment of immovable assets of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. Sinha had also ordered the authorities to conduct surveys and take stock of properties left behind by the migrants.