PDP moves Bill in J&K Assembly to legalise property rights of houses on state-owned land

PDP introduces Bill in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to legalize property rights for long-term residents on state-owned lands.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has introduced a Bill in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly “to legalise and confer property rights upon residents who have constructed and lived in houses on state-owned, common, and other lands for decades”.

“Bulldozer moves made by the BJP regime in Muslim belt have created deep uncertainty and anxiety among people in Kashmir. During the Central rule, a lot of land was transferred to Central and State institutions and currently there are proposals for transferring lakhs of kanals to satellite townships, railways and new projects. Some people are given land in landless schemes but people who are living in their own constructed homes are evicted repeatedly. It’s a law to secure people’s shelters and homes and reduce fear of eviction,” PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra told The Hindu.

He has moved a Private Member Bill titled “The Jammu and Kashmir (Regularisation and Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Public Land) Bill, 2025” for the upcoming session of the Legislative Assembly that will start from March 3. 

“The Bill aims to legalise and confer property rights upon residents who have constructed and lived in houses on state-owned, common, and other lands for decades,” Mr. Parra said.

The Lieutenant Governor administration retrieved “15 lakh kanals (70,000 hectares-75,000 hectares) of land from illegal occupants” since 2020.  

The eviction drive, however, came under criticism from mainstream parties, including the National Conference and the PDP, for “targeting” locals.  

Mr. Parra said a humane and pragmatic approach to the long-standing issue of unauthorised residential constructions was the need of the hour. “The Bill seeks to provide security of tenure to thousands of families, ensuring their right to shelter as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution,” he said.