The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, August 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

Major, 2 jawans killed
Four shepherds massacred
Tribune News Service and agencies

Baramula, August 23
An Indian Army officer was killed and three soldiers were injured when Pakistani troops shelled the border areas in Gurez, Karnah and Tulail Sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.

The sources said Pakistani troops fired mortars and artillery shells late last night, targeting security installations and civilian areas. Some of the shells fell near security bunkers, resulting in the death of Major Ahuja and injuries to three soldiers.

In Jammu Sector, the Border Security Force shot dead two Pakistani Rangers carrying out a recce despite warnings from the Indian side.

JAMMU: While four members of a minority community were gunned down in the Ramban area two Pakistani infiltrators were killed in the Kanachak border area near Jammu today.

According to the police, a group of militants roaming in the Ramban area killed four shepherds Avtar Chand, Bhagat Ram, Nasib Singh and Amar Singh. Avtar Chand and Bhagat Ram were over 70 years of age.

Meanwhile, two Army jawans were killed today and four critically injured when heavily armed militants ambushed a patrol party in Jammu district, official sources said here.

The Army troops, on learning about the presence of a group of heavily armed militants, rushed to the border area of Vijaypur in Jammu district this afternoon, the sources said. The encounter was on till late tonight.

In another incident personnel of the Special Operation Group (SOG) killed two Pak infiltrators, Abu Rashid and Abu Talat, in the Kanachak border area.

In another incident BSF personnel today killed two intruders believed to be Pak Rangers at Gole Pattan in Akhnoor sector this morning.

SRINAGAR: Atleast 13 persons, including five security men, were injured in a grenade blast at Shopian in Pulwama district of south Kashmir this afternoon.

Punjab sop on stamp duty
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23
Decks have been cleared for giving exemption from stamp duty on the transfer of property among blood relations in Punjab.

This was stated here today by Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Revenue Minister. He said he gave the approval today to the proposal which was put before him by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) in this connection.

The authorities concerned had been told to prepare a memorandum of this proposal. At the most, the memorandum, as agenda item, would be put before the next meeting of the Council of Ministers, Mr Sekhwan said.

Such a step on the party will be a big relief for the people of the state, especially in the urban areas where those wanting to transfer property in the name of their immediate blood relations, for instance a father to his son, have to pay a heavy stamp duty. As the value of property in urban areas is quite high, sometimes, the parties concerned have to give lakhs of rupees as stamp duty.

Mr Sekhwan said there would be a complete exemption on the stamp duty on such transfer of property. Only 1 per cent registration fee would be charged.

However, it is not clear what precautionary measures would be taken by the government to prevent the misuse of such exemption from stamp duty. Its most adverse effect could be on the women. As per the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, women are entitled to a share in the property of their father.

However, as transfer of property by paying a small amount of registration fee would be enforced in the state, a father, wanting to deny the property right to his daughter or daughters, will get it transferred to male members of the family.

At present as the stamp duty is very high on the transfer of property to blood relations through registered deeds by way of sale or gift, most of the parents transfer the right of property to their wards through wills which come into operation after their death. Only nominee fee has to be paid for the execution of the will. Earlier, there was a trend to transfer the property by way of civil court decree. But now as per the decision of the Supreme Court, stamp duty has to be paid on the value of the property transferred through decree which has to be registered under the Indian Registration Act.

Meanwhile, Mr Sekhwan said that the Shiromani Akali Dal’s members in the Rajya Sabha would oppose the amendments to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act when these were brought before the Upper House. Already, the Lok Sabha has passed the amendments. He said the SAD would not compromise on the river waters issue.