J&K admin to annul all actions taken under Roshni land scheme
Jammu: Three weeks after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordered a CBI probe into an alleged scam in the Roshni land scheme, the J&K administration on Saturday said it would annul all actions taken, cancel mutations and retrieve entire land in six months.
The scheme initially envisaged conferment of proprietary rights of around 20.55 lakh kanals of land (1,2,50 hectares) to occupants of which 15.85 percent of land was approved for vesting of ownership rights.
But against the expected revenue from such occupants, the revenue actually generated was meager, thereby failing to realize the objective of the scheme that was finally repealed by Satya Pal Malik, the former governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, on November 28, 2018.
On October 9, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal ordered the CBI probe into irregularities in the scheme and directed the agency to file a status report every eight weeks.
"The J&K administration has decided to implement the high court order in which it declared the Jammu and Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001, as amended from time to time as unconstitutional, contrary to law and unsustainable," an official spokesman said.
The act, popularly referred to as the Roshni scheme or the Roshini Act, was believed to be a revolutionary step that had the twin objectives of generating resources for financing power projects and conferment of proprietary rights to occupants of state land.
It was hoped that the legislation would help to boost the farming sector and in turn generate substantial revenue for funding power projects across the state.
An order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, with the approval of the Lt Governor, stated that the government has been found necessary in the order to implement the judgment passed by the court on a PIL and other connected matters.
"Now, therefore, it is hereby ordered that the principal secretary to the government, revenue department, shall pass an order declaring all actions taken under the Jammu and Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001, as amended from time to time, and rules made thereunder as void ab-initio," the spokesman said quoting the order.
He said it would be ensured that all the mutations done in furtherance of the act are annulled.
The principal secretary will also work out a plan to retrieve the large tracts of state land vested under the act in a time-bound manner, the spokesman said.
He said the secretary will also work out the modalities and a plan to evict encroachers from such state Land and retrieve it within six months.
The officer would also work out modalities for handling the money received for these lands after the annulment, the spokesman said.
The secretary will also ensure that information regarding district-wise state land, as of January 1, is complied and posted on official websites with details of land that has been encroached, he said.
"The details of the applications received under the act, the valuation of land, amounts paid by the beneficiary, the orders passed under the act, and the persons in whose favor the vesting was done and also... further transfers, if any, recognized and accepted by the authorities" should be posted on the websites, the spokesman said.
The details should also include, "complete identities of all influential persons (including ministers, legislators, bureaucrats, government officials, police officers, businessmen) their relatives or persons holding benami for them, who have derived benefit under the act or occupy state lands", he said.
The action would be completed within a period of one month, the spokesman said.
Divisional commissioners of Jammu as well as of the Kashmir region will place on the record before the high court the details of encroached state land not covered by the act, he said.
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Bihar minister Nitin Nabin appointed BJP's national working president
New Delhi (PTI): Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin was on Sunday appointed as the BJP national working president and is likely to eventually succeed JP Nadda as its national president, signalling a generational shift in the ruling party.
Nabin, 45, son of late Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha -- a veteran BJP leader and former MLA -- is considered dynamic and ideologically rooted, and deeply committed to the organisation, party leaders said.
A five-time MLA, he represents Bankipur assembly constituency in Bihar and has served twice as a minister in the Bihar Government.
His tenures as a minister in Bihar and his role as the party incharge of Chhattisgarh have been truly outstanding and marked by his effective organisational leadership, they said.
The BJP parliamentary board picked Nabin for the post.
"Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board has appointed Nitin Nabin, a minister in the Bihar government, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national working president with immediate effect," BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said in a notification.
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Nabin, who belongs to the Kayastha community, is likely to succeed incumbent BJP chief Nadda and is one of the youngest leaders to occupy the post, the leaders said.
Nadda, 65, was appointed the BJP President in January 2020 and has already completed his full term. He was granted extensions to lead the party through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Congratulating Nabin on his appointment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has distinguished himself as a "hardworking Karyakarta" and expressed confidence that his energy and dedication will strengthen the party.
"He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as Minister in Bihar for multiple terms. He has diligently worked to fulfil people's aspirations.
"He is known for his humble nature and grounded style of working. I am confident that his energy and dedication will strengthen our Party in the times to come. Congratulations to him on becoming the BJP National Working President," PM Modi said on X.
Nabin has also worked extensively for Yuva Morcha. His appointment reflects the BJP’s focus on capable leadership and signals a generational shift, the leaders said.
BJP chief Nadda also greeted Nabin and said he was confident that the party would attain new heights under his leadership.
"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the dynamic BJP leader from the sacred land of knowledge and culture, Bihar, and Minister in the Bihar Government, Shri Nitin Nabin ji on his appointment as the National Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"I am fully confident that under the guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and your leadership, the organisation will reach new heights with the sentiments of nation-building and public service. Heartfelt best wishes for your illustrious and successful tenure," he said on X.
