Srinagar, Oct 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday rejected a private member’s bill moved by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para that sought to grant ownership rights to residents who have built houses on state or common land.

The government opposed the proposal, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah warning that such legislation would “open the floodgates for land grab” across J&K.

Para, representing Pulwama, had introduced ‘Bill to Provide Special Provisions for Recognising Proprietary Rights of Houses Constructed on State, Kacharia, Common and Shamilat Land,’ arguing that it was meant to secure the “right to shelter” under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The proposed law aimed to regularise constructions on such lands by transferring ownership to occupant

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