3 hrs ago
Nazool Land Eviction Notices Alarm Srinagar’s Business Community
The government of Jammu and Kashmir is asking some businesses to leave land called Nazool land.
Nazool land is land controlled or managed by the government.
One building on Residency Road in Srinagar has more than 40 shops and offices that may be affected.
Officials say some occupants did not renew their leases or pay rent.
The government began a formal case involving the Mohi-ud-Din Trust building.
Many traders are worried about losing their places of work.
Sunil Sharma said his party would oppose eviction measures affecting small businesses.
Wahid Parra said the action did not match promises about protecting people living on state land.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued eviction notices to establishments operating on Nazool or state land.
The Mohi-ud-Din Trust building on Srinagar’s Residency Road, housing more than 40 businesses, faces eviction proceedings.
Officials say about 58,000 kanals of Nazool land exist across Jammu and Kashmir, including roughly 8,000 kanals in Srinagar.
The proceedings cite alleged failures to renew leases or pay rent and rely on the Jammu & Kashmir Public Premises Act, 1988.
BJP leader Sunil Sharma and PDP MLA Wahid Parra criticised the action, citing concerns about small businesses and electoral promises.
- Who
- The Jammu and Kashmir government, establishments on Nazool or state land, and political leaders Sunil Sharma and Wahid Parra.
- What
- Eviction proceedings have been initiated against establishments allegedly occupying Nazool land without renewed leases or rent payments.
- Where
- The main cited property is the Mohi-ud-Din Trust building on Residency Road near Polo View in Srinagar; other affected areas may include Lal Chowk and Rajbagh.
- When
- A Section 4 notice in the cited case was issued on August 5, 2026.
- Why
- The government alleges that some occupants failed to renew leases or pay rent and has asked them to provide documents proving their authority to occupy the premises.
Critics of the Evictions
Government Enforcement Position
Impact on small businesses
Critics of the Evictions
Sunil Sharma said the action could take away the livelihoods of poor people running small businesses and said the Bharatiya Janata Party would oppose it.
Government Enforcement Position
The proceedings are based on the government’s stated claim that occupants must establish their authority to use the premises and address alleged lease or rent failures.
Land protection promises
Critics of the Evictions
Wahid Parra said the action represented a reversal of electoral promises and referred to a People's Democratic Party land bill intended to protect people living on state land.
Government Enforcement Position
The eviction process invokes the statutory framework for removing unauthorised occupants from public premises.
Key facts
- Nazool land across Jammu and Kashmir
- About 58,000 kanals, equivalent to more than 7,000 acres.
- Nazool land in Srinagar
- Approximately 8,000 kanals, or around 1,000 acres.
- Nazool land in Jammu
- Nearly 50,000 kanals, or more than 6,000 acres.
- Cited property
- Mohi-ud-Din Trust building on Residency Road near Polo View.
- Businesses in cited building
- More than 40 commercial establishments.
- Legal basis
- Jammu & Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988.
- Land records cited
- Khasra Nos. 174-A and 174/1 in Estate Kothibagh, Srinagar.
Quotes
Sunil Sharma
BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir
“In some places, this government wants to take away the rights of poor people who earn their livelihood by running small business establishments. The Bharatiya Janata Party will protest against this.”
wionews.com
“Unfortunately, this government is going back on every promise on which it contested the elections and came to power.”
wionews.com
Sources
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