Govt Working To Restore Ancestral Properties Of Kashmiri Hindus Who Fled Valley Due To Terrorist Violence: MoS Home

The Central government on Wednesday (11 August) said that it is working towards restoring the ancestral property of persecuted Kashmir Hindus who had fled the Valley to save their lives.

In a written reply to a question regarding whether the government was taking steps to restore the ancestral properties of the Kashmiri Hindus who had to run away from Kashmir in the wake of terrorist violence there, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai responded, "Yes".

Rai further informed that as many as nine properties in Kashmir have been restored.

"Regarding restoration of properties to its rightful and original owner, 9 properties have been restored, as per the information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir," the minister stated.

On the question of whether the government has appointed any authority to receive request of property restoration from Hindus who returned to Kashmir to reclaim their movable and immovable property, Rai said that under the J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection & Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, District Magistrates (DMs) of concerned districts in the UT are the legal custodians of the immoveable properties of migrants, who take suo motto action on eviction proceedings in cases of encroachment.

"The migrants can also request DMs in such case," the minister said.

As per the information provided by the J&K government, after abrogation of Article 370, a total of 520 migrants have returned to Kashmir for taking up the jobs under the Prime Minister’s Development Package-2015, Rai said.