BJP left red faced in J&K as Governor revokes order on zero stamp duty for women

Governor Satya Pal Malik’s administration has come under fire for revoking “historic” order of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government, which had exempted women from paying stamp duty on property registration in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the new order issued by the Finance Department, three percent stamp duty on market value of land or estate would be charged from the women. Citing the powers conferred by Clause (a) of Section 9 of the Stamp Act Svt. 1977, the fresh order reads: “The Government has been satisfied that revoking the previous order is in public interest”.

The previous order was issued in May last year by the state cabinet, headed by then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, in a bid to empower women. The Cabinet, comprising ministers from both the PDP and the BJP had set zero percent duty for women on purchase of property including land both in urban as well as rural areas. Maintaining that women owned bare minimum immovable assets even after contributing the maximum to society, Mufti had said that “This incentive will encourage families to register their properties in the name of their sisters, daughters, wives and mothers.”

While Jammu and Kashmir had just four women lawmakers in the 89-member legislative assembly before it was dissolved in November last year, only 33 percent women in the age-group of 15-49 years in the state own a house, and just 23 percent own land, according to government records. Therefore, the decision by Muti-led coalition government was widely welcomed and praised nationally and globally. A UN agency had termed it a “Huge step towards women's empowerment!”

Ironically, the BJP leaders who were basking in the glory of the coalition government’s order back then, are now maintaining a radio silence on its revocation. Several disgruntled state party leaders, however, privately admit that the Governor’s decision is likely to backfire on BJP ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. As rival parties including the National Conference, Congress, National Panthers Party and others are likely to exploit it, they are planning to take up the issue with party high command soon.

However, PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and former finance minister Altaf Bukhari have slammed Governor’s administration. “The decision was taken by an elected government in the state and it cannot be scraped by the present dispensation. There has to be a limit to how far the Governor’s Administration can go. It needs to draw a line for its actions,” Mehbooba said in a statement, adding that the stamp duty on the sale of property registered in the name of women was abolished to improve their social status. She said that the new order had negated her efforts towards women empowerment.

“The revocation of order by the Governor administration makes no sense at all,” Mehbooba said and described Modi government’s much hyped “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child)” initiative as a “hogwash”.

Similarly, former finance minister Altaf Bukhari said: “The notification issued by the Governor led administration on 25 January 2019 states that the decision has been taken in the public interest. But my question is how can an anti-people decision be taken under the garb of public interest?”

Bukhari has urged Governor Malik to rescind the new order immediately.