Special status for Jammu and Kashmir has gone, but outside investors cannot buy land there

When the Centre stripped Jammu and Kashmir of special status under Article 370 and split the state into two Union Territories, one of the main rationales given for the decision was this: special status was a “hurdle for the development of Kashmir”. At the same time, it revoked Article 35A, which enabled the government of the former state to define “state subjects” and reserve for them certain rights, including the right to own land in Jammu and Kashmir.

As part of its development agenda in Jammu and Kashmir, the government is organising a global investors summit, scheduled to take place in April. An earlier attempt in October had to be aborted because of the security situation. The government’s stated aim: to draw outside investment to the region now that it is free of the restrictions imposed by special status.