Jammu, Jan 22:
Senior BJP leader and former minister Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar has raised a red flag against what he terms “grave economic injustice” being meted out to rural landowners in the Jammu region. Addressing a press conference at the BJP Headquarters in Trikuta Nagar on Thursday, Sukhnandan demanded an immediate overhaul of the Change of Land Use (CLU) charge system.
The veteran leader called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene personally and approve the rationalization of these charges in the upcoming Cabinet meeting.
The Controversy: Rural Land, Urban Prices
The core of the grievance lies in how the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) calculates the fee for converting land from agricultural to commercial or residential use.
According to Sukhnandan, landowners in far-flung rural villages are currently being forced to pay CLU charges based on the stamp duty rates of Gandhi Nagar—one of Jammu’s most expensive and elite urban localities.
“Why should a farmer in a rural village pay charges at par with Gandhi Nagar? This defies logic and fairness. It is nothing but economic injustice,” Sukhnandan asserted.
Official Discrepancy Acknowledged
Sukhnandan referred to an official communication from the Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, dated March 28, 2024. The letter reportedly admits that the current system is flawed.
Key Points Highlighted by the BJP Leader:
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Diverse Jurisdiction: The Jammu Master Plan–2032 covers vast areas across both Jammu and Samba districts, where market values vary significantly.
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Violation of Guidelines: Under SO-439 (dated 24.12.2021), land valuation should strictly follow local village-wise stamp duty rates, not an arbitrary “highest-value” benchmark.
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Administrative Delay: Despite the Divisional Commissioner’s office recommending a fix nearly two years ago, the Housing and Urban Development Department has yet to implement the change.
Impact on Development
The BJP leader warned that these “arbitrary” rates are not just a financial burden but are also:
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Stalling Lawful Development: Rural residents are discouraged from seeking legal permissions due to high costs.
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Encouraging Litigation: The lack of a transparent policy is pushing landowners toward distress and legal battles.
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Penalizing Rural Residency: Residents are essentially being “fined” for living outside premium urban zones.
The Demand
Sukhnandan, accompanied by party leaders Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Rakesh Pant, and Balbir Kumar, urged the government to adopt the Divisional Commissioner’s recommendations immediately.
“This is not a political issue; it is an issue of justice,” he stated, vowing that the BJP would continue to protest until an equitable CLU policy is enforced across the Jammu region.
