The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration recently introduced a new set of land grant rules, known as “J&K Land Grant Rules 2022,” which have sparked controversy. These rules lead to significant changes, including the termination of property lease rights for owners in J&K, with plans to outsource those properties anew online.
Key Features of J&K Land Grant Rules 2022
Replacing the liberal “J&K Land Grants Rules 1960,” which allowed leases for up to 99 years and were extendable, the newly implemented laws bring significant changes. Many tourist-attracting hotels and prime commercial establishments in the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar are on lease land under the previous rules.
The new regulations state that all leases, bar subsisting or expired residential ones, including those granted under earlier laws or determined prior to these rules, will not be renewed. The Lieutenant Governor’s administration has planned to hold a fresh online auction to outsource these lease properties. The existing lessees must promptly relinquish possession of the leased land back to the government or face eviction.
Opposition to the New Land Grant Rules
Various political entities maintain the stance that the current Land Grant Rules-2022 could potentially thrust six to seven lakh individuals into joblessness. Their concerns revolve around the idea that opening up the land for purchase could allow millionaires and capitalists from outside the region to buy local hotels and commercial establishments.
They argue that the new rules terminate the rights of present owners and sell property at market price, placing local business people at a disadvantage due to their comparatively lower purchasing power. In addition, owners with bank loans might have to sell their homes to repay their debts, especially considering the current J&K bank borrowing stands at ₹60,000 crore, reflecting the loans locals have taken to withstand turbulent times since the 1990s.
Administration’s Justification for the Land Grant Rules
The J&K Administration defends the new rules, asserting that they will not impact the poor of the region. They argue for the necessity of implementing the rule of law, as adhered to in the rest of the country. According to them, properties with a market value of ₹100 crore were being leased for as little as ₹5 – these circumstances, they say, are what has triggered apprehension about the new laws.
The administration desires to align J&K’s land laws with those applied in the rest of the country, viewing the prior laws as regressive and not designed with the common masses’ interests in mind. It is worth noting that 40% – 45% of the cases in various courts are attributed to land disputes, adding fuel to the push for reform.
