West Pakistan Refugees to be granted land ownership rights: LG Manoj Sinha

LG Sinha stated there was no denial to the fact that WPRs suffered discrimination and had to “live life like second-class citizens” over the past over 70 years

Chandra Maurya

May 2, 2023

LG Sinha stated there was no denial to the fact that WPRs suffered discrimination and had to “live life like second-class citizens” over the past over 70 years

LG Sinha announces ownership rights for land allotted to West Pakistan Refugees

The Union Territory administration in Jammu and Kashmir is all set to grant ownership rights to West Pakistan refugees for land allotted to them on their migration from Pakistan in 1947.

The Government of India has given direction to the Jammu and Kashmir administration and now the West Pakistani refugees will shortly get ownership rights,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced at a special governance camp in the RS Pura area of Jammu on Monday.

As per revenue records the West Pakistani refugees were given 46,666 kanals of land on May 7, 1954, in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts but were not conferred with ownership rights as they were not treated as the State Subjects.

Even after receiving citizenship rights after the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the major problem faced by West Pakistani refugees was that they were allotted land (following their migration) but were not given ownership rights.

“This will do away the pain of injustice inflicted upon West Pakistan refugees, a major part of which was removed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution of India on August 5, 2019,” Sinha said addressing West Pakistani refugee families at village Chakroi in RS Pura tehsil.

Before the Abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the West Pakistani refugees had to live the life of “second-class citizens”.

The Lieutenant Governor said they were deprived of participation in the elections of the Legislative Assembly, Panchayats, and Municipalities. Now, they can contest these elections, he added.

“All rights which were enjoyed by other citizens of Jammu and Kashmir were not given to the West Pakistani refugees earlier.

Admitting that a large number of the families still couldn’t avail of the compensation, he declared that rules will be simplified shortly to help people take the benefit.

Welcoming the announcement President of the West Pakistan Refugees Action Committee, Labha Ram Gandhi said, ” We are waiting for the final announcement of ownership rights to the West Pakistan Refugees”.

Gandhi said the village-wise list of families have been submitted to the revenue department for the verification process. “I am hopeful the final ownership rights will be granted soon“, Gandhi added.

Highlighting the issue of grant of compensation of Rs.5.50 lakhs to West Pakistan Refugees, Labha Ram Gandhi said, out of 5764 families around 1130 families have received compensation so far. “We have also requested the UT administration and also raised this issue before the LG Manoj Sinha to relax certain conditions to enable poor families complete necessary documentation to avail of the benefits of the compensation package”.

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