SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday allowed the introduction of a private member’s bill in the Legislative Assembly seeking restoration of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act, 1960, and the rules framed thereunder to their original form as it existed before the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grant Rules, 2022.
The Bill was moved by the ruling National Conference's (NC) MLA Tanvir Sadiq to protect the rights of existing leases and occupants, and to ensure that public land serves the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
When Tanvir introduced the bill in the House, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Revenue portfolio, said that he would not oppose the Bill and would allow its introduction and discussion.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the motion to a voice vote, which was cleared with support from NC members. The opposition PDP and BJP members did not press for a division.
The Bill proposes legislation to counter the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022, which provide that certain expired leases, particularly in the tourism sector, will not be renewed and must instead be auctioned at market rates.
The issue has gained prominence as leases of several hotel owners in the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir have expired.
Earlier this month, hoteliers of Gulmarg withdrew their pleas from the High Court on the issue of expired leases of their hotels ahead of the introduction of the bill in the Assembly.
Lease of almost all the hotels in Gulmarg has expired.
In 2022, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration introduced the J&K Land Grant Rules, which discontinued the practice of extending lease agreements.
If the Private Member's bill is passed in the House, it would allow renewal of leases for existing occupants instead of mandating fresh auctions.
Reacting to the government not opposing the Private Member’s Bill, People's Conference chairman and MLA Sajjad Gani Lone, in a post on X, said, “The bill pertains to land. More specifically about extending the leases on government land that have expired. The bill pertains to some of the costliest real estate in Kashmir, worth I would guess about 70000 to one lakh crores. Or maybe even much more. And no prizes for guessing. It is aimed to help the super elite of Kashmir,” he said.
“May I ask what is in it for the poorest of the poor. Lakhs of poor families who have built houses on 2 Marlas or 3 Marlas or at the most a kanal. They continue to be persecuted on a daily basis. They are as helpless as they have been for decades. Do they don’t deserve a bill,” Lone said.
“I am not opposed to the bill per se. But it is the super elite only who have to benefit. May I ask some questions. I asked them in Assembly. Never got an answer. What is the total land in Kanals that belongs to the government and has been leased out. What is the lease amount that they have been paying till date,” Lone added.