Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Ladakh Approves Nautor Land Rules, Opening Rights for Thousands
Nautor land is government-owned barren or wasteland that people have used for farming or other productive work.
Ladakh has more than 60,000 acres recorded as nautor land.
New rules could give eligible occupants legal ownership of up to 10 acres.
The land generally must have been occupied before October 27, 2020.
Land beyond 10 acres may be provided through a lease instead of full ownership.
Owners of regularised land may be able to use it as security for loans.
Officials will check claims, especially for Gair Mustaqil holdings.
Abandoned or illegally occupied land will not qualify and could be taken back.
The rules will be open for public comments for two weeks before final notification.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved rules to regularise eligible nautor land holdings across Ladakh’s seven districts.
Eligible occupants may receive proprietary rights over up to 10 acres at the notified market rate.
Only possession established before October 27, 2020, will generally qualify for regularisation.
Holdings above 10 acres may be granted on leasehold terms with an 80% market-rate premium.
The rules include verification, eviction, audit and cancellation safeguards and will undergo two weeks of public consultation.
- Who
- Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the rules, which affect eligible nautor land occupants across Ladakh.
- What
- The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Nautor Regularisation) Rules, 2026, establish a process for granting proprietary or leasehold rights over eligible nautor land.
- When
- The rules were approved on September 4; eligible possession must generally predate October 27, 2020, and the rules will undergo a two-week consultation.
- Where
- Across all seven districts of the Union territory of Ladakh.
- Why
- The rules aim to give genuine landholders legal certainty and access to loans while limiting encroachment, unauthorised claims and disputes over public and Council land.
- Land covered
- More than 60,000 acres are recorded in Ladakh’s revenue records as nautor holdings.
- Ownership limit
- Eligible occupants may receive proprietary rights over up to 10 acres.
- Eligibility date
- Possession must generally have existed before October 27, 2020.
- Pricing
- Proprietary rights up to 10 acres are payable at the notified market rate for the relevant revenue village.
- Excess holdings
- Nautor holdings beyond 10 acres may be allotted on a leasehold basis.
- Lease premium
- The premium for holdings beyond 10 acres is fixed at 80% of the notified market rate.
- Consultation
- The rules will be placed in the public domain for two weeks before final notification.