New Delhi, July 23: Former law minister Arun Jaitley, nominated by the Centre to hold discussions with Jammu and Kashmir government, will take up the issue of devolution of powers to the state, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"Though no formal proposal has been received, the issue of devolution of powers to J and K was discussed by the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister on June 24 this year where it was decided that a representative of the Centre will have discussions with the government of J and K," Minister of State for home Vidyasagar Rao told Lok Sabha during question hour.
"It has been subsequently decided that Jaitley would be holding discussions as a representative of the government of India," Rao said in reply to a written question.
In reply to another question, he said no proposal for deletion or modification of Article 370 of the constitution was under consideration of the government and "as such, the question of examination of implications of retention of this article does not arise".
Regarding properties of Kashmir migrants, Rao said it was true that various departments of Centre and the state government had occupied properties belonging to these displaced persons "without taking consent of their owners because of security situation in the state".
While the Centre has asked the state government to expedite the assessment or release of rent in all the cases, the number of houses thus occupied stood at 1201 and land at 9718 Kanals. There were 382 cases under process in respect to such houses and 120 in respect of the land, Rao added.

Bureau Report