844 Kanals Restored Since November: J&K Steps Up Push to Return Migrant Lands
Robust legal framework, tech-driven monitoring, and welfare schemes aim to ensure dignity and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit families
Srinagar: In a significant stride towards justice and rehabilitation, the Jammu and Kashmir government has accelerated efforts to restore land belonging to Kashmiri migrant families, with 844 kanals and 4 marlas retrieved since November 2024 as part of a broader initiative to safeguard displaced communities’ rights.
Official figures revealed in the Legislature on Saturday suggest that a total of 3,729 kanals and 4 marlas of migrant land have been successfully retrieved across the Kashmir Valley so far, reflecting sustained administrative action at the district level.
The restoration process, officials said, is being carried out under the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, which empowers Deputy Commissioners as custodians of such properties.
From Baramulla to Shopian, Anantnag to Kupwara, district administrations have worked to reclaim encroached land and return it to rightful owners. Baramulla alone accounts for a significant share, followed by Shopian and Ganderbal, highlighting the scale and spread of the exercise.
The government has also strengthened institutional oversight to ensure time-bound progress. A high-level Steering Committee, constituted in January 2026, is closely monitoring implementation. In its first meeting, the panel issued detailed directions to streamline retrieval, enforce accountability, and fast-track pending cases.
To bring transparency and accessibility, authorities have operationalised an online grievance redressal portal, which has emerged as a key tool in addressing complaints. Out of over 10,000 applications received, more than 9,700 have been disposed of, with over 7,800 approved, indicating substantial movement in long-pending cases.
Officials said the process is no longer limited to paperwork. FIRs are being registered in cases of encroachment, geo-tagged inventories of migrant properties are being created, and land is being handed over in a transparent manner in the presence of designated representatives. Revenue records are also being updated regularly to reflect restored ownership.
Adding a human touch to the administrative drive, the government has planned outreach camps throughout April 2026 in Jammu, aimed at on-the-spot grievance redressal for migrant families, many of whom have waited decades for justice.
Beyond land restoration, the government has reiterated its commitment to the holistic welfare of Kashmiri migrants. Monthly financial assistance, free ration, housing under the Prime Minister’s package, transit accommodations in the Valley, and employment opportunities form the backbone of the rehabilitation framework. Nearly 5,900 jobs have already been provided, while thousands of transit housing units have been completed.
Social security schemes, scholarships, and livelihood support for agriculturists and horticulturists are also being extended, reflecting a multi-pronged approach to reintegration.
Officials said that the aim is not just restoration of land, but restoration of dignity, identity, and belonging.
“The government is committed to ensuring that every rightful owner gets back what is theirs, in a transparent and time-bound manner,” the reply states, underlining that the process is being pursued on priority with continuous monitoring at multiple levels.
As the Valley witnesses these incremental yet meaningful steps, the effort signals a renewed push to address one of the most sensitive and long-pending issues linked to displacement—offering hope that the wounds of the past may, gradually, begin to heal.
