What do the J&K Land Grants Rules, 2022 entail?
- The J&K Lieutenant Governor’s administration recently notified fresh land rules under J&K Land Grant Rules-2022 and replaced the J&K Land Grants Rules-1960,
- Under the previous rules, prime locations such as Srinagar, Jammu, Gulmarg and Pahalgam were opened up for construction, commercial & residential buildings.
New land laws
- No extension of leases of current landowners: in case of their lease expiry.
- Reduction in lease period: Unlike the previous up to 99 years of lease, the lease period has been reduced to 40 years.
- Fresh e-auction: of the properties where lease had ended by “any person legally competent under Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.”
- No land to a non permanent resident: no land shall be granted on lease to the person, who is not a permanent resident of the State.
- Exception: Government may relax this in the interest of industrial or commercial development or in the favour of a registered charitable society.
Immediate impact
- Opened hundreds of properties for fresh auction: where outsiders could also participate.
- Boost for the tourist hotspot Gulmarg: where 56 hotels out of 59 have their leases expired already.
- Auction of properties of other major areas: like Pahalgam, Srinagar and Jammu’s Patnitop