Srinagar, April 11: Government of India has made all 890 central laws applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, while 205 state laws have been repealed and 129 laws modified after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while tabling 2021-22 budget for J&K last month in the parliament said that all “unjust and discriminatory laws have been removed” from the erstwhile state.
“All 890 central laws have now become applicable to J&K. 205 state laws have been repealed and 129 laws have been modified. All sections of people in J&K can look forward to justice and fairness,” she said.
Sitharaman said that rights of weaker sections like Scheduled Tribes, other traditional forest dwellers, Scheduled Castes and Safai Karamcharis is now ensured by the application of relevant Acts.
“Rights of children and senior citizens are now being ensured. In order to create a just and equitable society, reservation rules have been amended to extend benefits of the reservation to left out categories like Pahari speaking people and economically weaker sections,” she said.
As per section 96 of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, the GoI has the powers to make adaptations and modifications of the laws, whether by way of repeal or amendment for the application of any law made before the appointed date till the expiration of one year from the appointed date in relation to Union Territories.
Earlier, the laws passed by Parliament were applicable in the state only after the state government gave its concurrence due to its special status and separate constitution.
Sitharaman said OBC reservation benefits have been increased from 2 per cent to 4 per cent and income ceiling has been raised from Rs 4.50 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.
“Sections of society which have been discriminated against since ages such as displaced persons of PoJK and Chhamb, West Pakistani refugees and residents of border areas have been benefited under various schemes,” she said. ” Special attention is being paid to Kashmiri migrants.”