By fiat, the Government of India implemented a number of substantial changes to applicable law in Indian-Administered Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India imposed 11 Indian “central” laws to the territory. The Government of India also amended 10 previously existing laws applicable to the territory. Among the most substantial changes was the imposition of a previously politically untenable property tax. This is a major violation of international humanitarian law, human rights, indigenous rights, treaty obligations and constitutional guarantees.
Topics: changing the laws in force in occupied territory, international humanitarian law violation, no consent of governed, violation of economic rights, violation of cultural rights, violation of social rights, colonial domination, dispossession, disempowerment, marginalization, right to education, indigenous rights
By fiat, among other changes, the following changes were imposed:
The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act and the Municipal Corporation Act were amended to provide for the imposition of property tax, to modify the local administration and to empower the government to assess and collect new taxes.
The Board of School Education Act was amended to create a new post of Director Academics, directly appointed by the Government, who, among other duties, is empowered to prepare curricula for different stages of education in IAJK.
The Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act was amended in order to establish a new Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority to function as the main body for the ‘formulation of policy to guide the approach for developing the transport system in the region’.
October 2020
Originally published