Srinagar, Jan 23: In contravention to J&K State Subject laws, non-locals from neighboring state of Punjab have reportedly managed enrollment in the municipal electoral rolls of J&K, putting a question mark on the claims of successive regimes of the state on protecting the special identity of J&K.
Greater Kashmir is in possession of clinching evidence which reveals that two families from Punjab- Singlas and Bansals- have managed to incorporate their families’ names in the municipal electoral rolls during 2012. The families are also figuring in the electoral rolls of Punjab.
The head of Singla family, Krishan Gopal Singla son of Prem Kumar of Gobindnagar, Punjab, has electoral registration number AZH0175158 in Punjab. He is also registered in J&K under electoral rolls-2013: State-S09- Jammu and Kashmir Assembly constituency 71, Gandhinagar, under the electoral No. LNK1582535.
Krishan Gopal’s father and mother are also residents of Punjab, registered in the electoral rolls there. Gopal’s wife Alka also figures in the electoral rolls of Punjab and J&K under no.s AZH0175166 and LNK1582543 respectively. Likewise, Gopal’s sons Varun Singla and Tarun Singla have also dual electoral registration in J&K and Punjab. Varun is registered under no.s AZH0175174 (Punjab) and LNK1582550 (J&K). Tarun is registered under no.s AZH0175182 (Punjab) and LNK1582568 (J&K).
Bansals, residents of Gobindgarh, Punjab, own a school in the name of family head Om Prakash Bansal. In steel business in J&K, the family has also fraudulently managed registration in J&K electoral rolls. One of the sons of Om Prakash, Hukum Chand Bansal, has purchased property in Jammu and is the chairman of GD Goenka Public School in Jammu. His wife Neena is also a resident of Punjab (electoral registration no. 52/PB/07/078/129109).
Om Prakash’s another son, Dewan Bansal, also figures in the electoral rolls of Jammu and Kashmir. His wife and sons are also registered under the JK municipal rolls.
The Singlas are owners of Kashmir Steels and have purchased land at Lassipora in Pulwama district. The Bansals have their companies in Jammu under the names of Kashmir Tubes and Narmada Steels. They are also constructing a hotel at DC Road Jammu.
Under Article 370, people who are not State Subjects of J&K can’t purchase land or any other immovable property in the state. The genesis of the State Subject law is the notification dated 20th April, 1927, No. 1-L/84 issued by Maharaja Hari Singh.
Despite repeated attempts by this reporter, the Minister of State for Revenue, Ajaz Khan, didn’t pick up the phone. When contacted, J&K Chief Secretary Madhav Lal said, “I can’t comment on this issue right now.”
Noted lawyer Bashir Ahmad Bashir said State Subject law passed by Maharaja Hari Singh is a safeguard for the residents of J&K. “But unfortunately, Article 370 which gives special status to the J&K domiciles, has been torn apart under the nose of the authorities who claim to uphold the special status of J&K,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST