The Jammu and Kashmir government disclosed that its valuable properties in New Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh are not under its control but occupied by others. This revelation came in response to a cut motion by MLA Sajad Gani Lone. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, overseeing the Hospitality and Protocol Department, stated that 96 kanals of government property are currently held by the Military Engineering Service under the Ministry of Defence.
The government owns “Kashmir House” in New Delhi, spanning 114 Kanals and 11.2 Marlas, with 96 Kanals occupied by the Military Engineering Wing. Efforts have been made to address this issue with the Estates Department and Ministry of Defence. A portion of the land was successfully retrieved on June 5, 2023, with the remaining land still under unauthorized occupation.
In Amritsar, the government’s land at Dam Gunj, Tapai Road, measuring around 32 Kanals and 9 Marlas, has faced unauthorized occupation. Legal actions led to the recovery of substantial portions of the land from individuals like Raminder Singh Buloria and Balbir Sharma. However, some land remains under the occupation of Kuldip and Raminder Pal Singh, with ongoing litigation for their retrieval.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has also initiated legal proceedings to recover 1,251 Kanals of land leased out in Haryana during the 1960s. The land in the Mangla area, District Sirsa, was leased to Bajwa Brothers but due to lease violations, legal actions have been pursued to enforce ownership rights and regain possession. The matter is currently in the final stages of argument before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
