Reversing historic decision

14/02/2019

The Governor's administration has reversed historic decision of previous PDP-BJP Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti, by which stamp duty on registration of land anywhere on the name of women was fully exempted, by issuing a fresh Notification today under which three percent stamp duty on market value of land or area will be charged from the females for registration of land on their names in both urban and rural areas. The Notification issued by the Finance Department was set to cause major embarrassment to the BJP, which was partner in coalition Government with the PDP when the order was issued, as the State was presently under the Central rule. Further, the Government has also increased stamp duty on all registrations from five per cent to seven percent in both urban as well as rural areas, SRO 82 of the Finance Department issued few days back by Principal Secretary ordered imposition of three percent stamp duty on the market value of land and area in both urban and rural areas if the land is registered on the name of a female member of the family. SRO 219 issued on May 18,2018 by the Finance Department during the tenure of previous PDP-BJP Government had ordered 100 percent remission of stamp duty levied on land or estate, if purchased on the name of a female member of the family.
The PDP has already gone offensive against the Finance Department decision while the BJP was in defensive mode and unable to say anything. The BJP leaders admitted that the decision could be a major setback for them especially when LokSabha and Assembly elections were round the corner and it could anger the women folk. However, they said, they would take up the matter with the Governor and urge him to withdraw the decision as not only the PDP but even National Conference, Congress, Nationalist Panthers Party and others were likely to exploit it. The stamp duty has been fixed at five percent of the market value of land or estate within urban or rural areas if registered jointly in the name of husband and wife, the SRO, issued, said. Prior to PDP-BJP Government's SRO 219 of 2018, which had exempted stamp duty on purchase of land on women's name and fixed five percent duty if the land was purchased on the name of male members, the stamp duty was seven percent in urban areas and five percent in rural areas. However, women were given 25 percent concession if the land was registered on their names. Registration of land and houses on the name of females had witnessed massive jump after decision of PDP-BJP Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti completely exempting stamp duty for registration of land on the name of women. The females had benefited by this decision and by feeling safe and secure as people had started registration of land on the name of female members of the families to save stamp duty, which was five percent for the male members.

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