A private member's Bill introduced by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was rejected after both the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) voted against it. The proposed legislation aimed to grant ownership rights to original State subjects who had lived in houses built on government land for over 20 years. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the Bill, claiming it would benefit the land mafia and illegal encroachers, while the BJP termed it an attempt at land jihad. The PDP described the measure as an anti-bulldozer initiative to protect residents' rights. The controversy follows a government drive last year against alleged encroachment, which sparked public outcry across Kashmir and Jammu regions. Additionally, leases for 55 of 59 hotels in Gulmarg, including the well-known Nedous Hotel linked to the Chief Minister's relatives, have expired and are now open for auction. Land ownership remains a deeply sensitive issue in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after changes introduced following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Details of the Proposed Bill and Its Conditions
Waheed Para introduced the Jammu and Kashmir (Regularization and Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Public Land) Bill as a private member's initiative. Invoking the right to shelter under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Bill sought to recognise proprietary rights for residents living on State land for more than 20 years. Ownership rights were restricted to those holding valid Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) issued under the 1968 rules, ensuring eligibility only for original State subjects recognised before Article 370's abrogation. The legislation excluded tenants and licensees and required applicants not to own any other property in their name or their dependent family members' names. Development charges and fees were capped at one-third of the circle rate, with exemptions proposed for economically weaker sections and families of deceased Army personnel or
Opposing Views from NC, BJP, and PDP's Response
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opposed the Bill, arguing it lacked safeguards to identify genuine residents and would benefit land mafia and illegal encroachers. He questioned how beneficiaries could be verified as original citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. BJP's Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, claimed the Bill facilitated land jihad and demographic changes, praising the Chief Minister for rejecting it. Para defended the legislation, insisting it explicitly protected only State subjects and aimed to regularise land beneath residential houses, excluding commercial properties. He criticised the NC for abandoning its legacy of land reforms initiated by founder Sheikh Abdullah. NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq separately proposed a Bill to restore the 1960 land lease framework, arguing that changed domicile rules could allow anyone to exploit Para's provisions. Land ownership remains contentious after the **2022
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