Jammu, February 19 – The Jammu and Kashmir government stated on Thursday that its valuable properties in New Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh are not under its control and are occupied by others.
The government made this statement in a written reply to a motion moved by MLA Sajad Gani Lone.
This disclosure has raised questions about how assets of such significant financial value slipped out of the control of the J&K government.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Minister in charge of the Hospitality and Protocol Department, stated that 96 kanals of land belonging to the J&K government are currently occupied by the Military Engineering Service, which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
"The Jammu and Kashmir Government owns a property known as “Kashmir House” spanning 114 Kanals and 11.2 Marlas on Rajaji Marg in New Delhi. Of this, 96 Kanals are currently occupied by the Military Engineering Wing under the Ministry of Defence (Engineer-in-Chief), and the issue has repeatedly been raised with the Estates Department as well as the Ministry of Defence,” the minister’s reply stated.
The minister also revealed that 1 Kanal and 11.2 Marlas of land were successfully retrieved on June 5, 2023.
"Of the remaining land, 1 Kanal and 11.2 Marlas were under unauthorized occupation and were successfully retrieved on June 5, 2023. As a result, 18 Kanals of land is currently under the possession of the Jammu & Kashmir Government, with staff quarters on it," the minister said.
The minister also disclosed that 8 Kanals and 5 Marlas of land are under illegal occupation in Dam Gunj, Amritsar.
"The Government owns approximately 32 Kanals and 9 Marlas of land on Dam Gung, Tapai Road, Amritsar, which has been subject to unauthorized occupation. Through sustained legal action and orders passed by the Hon’ble District Court, Amritsar, the Government has successfully retrieved approximately 14 Kanals and 11 Marlas from Raminder Singh Buloria and 9 Kanals and 13 Marlas from Balbir Sharma, thereby recovering substantial portions of the land," the minister said.
The minister stated that the remaining 2 Kanals and 15 Marlas are under the occupation of one Kuldip, and approximately 5 Kanals and 10 Marlas are occupied by Raminder Pal Singh.
These two cases are currently being litigated in competent civil courts.
"Legal proceedings are ongoing, and the remaining land measuring approximately 8 Kanals and 5 Marlas is expected to be retrieved upon final adjudication, with assistance from the Revenue Department and local authorities," the minister said.
The minister stated that the J&K government has initiated legal proceedings to recover 1,251 Kanals of land leased out in 1960 in Haryana.
"The Government of Jammu & Kashmir owns approximately 1,251 Kanals and four Marlas of land at the Mangla area, District Sirsa, Haryana, which was leased out in the late 1960s to Bajwa Brothers. Due to violation of lease conditions, particularly non-payment of lease rent, the government initiated legal proceedings before the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court to enforce its ownership rights and secure recovery of possession. The matter is at the final argument stage," the minister said.
