J&K Assembly Considers Bill to Reverse Land Grants Act Amendments
J&K Assembly admits Bill on reversing amendments made to Land Grants Act by L-G in 2022

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The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has admitted a Bill to reverse amendments made to the Land Grants Act of 1960 by the Lieutenant Governor in 2022, which threatened local leaseholders' rights. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah indicated that the government would review the Bill, which aims to protect local interests in key tourist areas like Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
- 01The Bill aims to restore the original provisions of the Land Grants Act, 1960.
- 02It seeks to protect local leaseholders from eviction and auctioning of government land.
- 03Opposition parties criticize the Bill for favoring the elite over the poor.
- 04The Bill was introduced by National Conference legislator Tanvir Ali Sadiq.
- 05Another Bill for a university campus in Banihal was also admitted.
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On April 1, 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly admitted the J&K Land Grants (Restoration and Protection) Bill, 2025, which seeks to reverse amendments made to the Land Grants Act of 1960 by the Lieutenant Governor in 2022. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the government would consider the Bill before deciding on support. The proposed legislation aims to restore the original rules of the Land Grants Act, thereby protecting local leaseholders in popular tourist areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Patnitop from eviction and auctioning of land. Legislator Tanvir Ali Sadiq emphasized that the Bill would provide legal protection to those occupying lease land, preventing outsiders from participating in auctions that could disadvantage locals. However, opposition legislators, including Sajad Lone from the J&K Peoples Conference and Sunil Sharma from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), criticized the Bill for allegedly benefiting wealthy elites while neglecting the needs of poorer families. They argued that the Bill could undermine public assets and the existing legal framework established by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019. In addition, the Assembly admitted another Bill aimed at establishing a university campus in Banihal, District Ramban, to enhance higher education and socio-economic development in the region.
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The Bill could significantly affect local leaseholders' rights and property security in key tourist destinations, ensuring that locals retain their land against external competition.
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