Jammu and Kashmir Police have taken action against unregistered hotels, guesthouses, and homestays in Srinagar. A verification and inspection drive was conducted by Srinagar Police in coordination with Tourist Police Station Srinagar to ensure compliance with statutory norms. Several establishments, including hotels Essar, ABC Residency, Gani, and Aksa, and homestays Al Habib, Golden Moon, and Divine Holiday, were found operating without valid registration.
Fines were imposed on the violators for operating without mandatory registration. Additionally, preventive action under Sections 126/170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) will be initiated against the owners of such unregistered establishments. Srinagar Police have advised all owners and operators of accommodation facilities to strictly comply with legal requirements and ensure timely registration to avoid legal consequences.
Continued verification and enforcement drives are planned to ensure adherence to regulations and promote safe, lawful, and responsible tourism in the district. In a previous incident in December 2025, a hotel and a homestay in Srinagar faced legal action for not reporting the stay of an Israeli national and other foreign guests as required by mandatory rules. It is legal for foreign nationals, including Israelis, to stay in Srinagar hotels if the accommodation follows the government’s reporting requirements.
All hotels, guesthouses, houseboats, and homestay operators in India must submit an online Form-C to the Foreigners Registration Office within 24 hours of a foreign guest’s arrival. Srinagar Police have registered several First Information Reports (FIRs) against lodging facilities for violating these norms. An IMY Homestay owner in the Lal Bazar area was specifically booked for concealing the stay of an Israeli national named Starobinsky Lior and others.
