Srinagar, Aug 3: A delegation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits on Monday urged the Jammu and Kashmir administration to demarcate the land belonging to an ancient temple in Palhallan village of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and facilitate its reconstruction, saying the shrine is an important part of the community’s religious and cultural heritage.
The demand comes amid renewed calls by members of the displaced community for the protection and restoration of temples and other religious sites left behind in the Valley following their migration in the early 1990s.
The delegation said the Palhallan temple has remained neglected for years and requires immediate administrative intervention to safeguard the property and pave the way for its restoration.
According to the delegation, the temple is not merely a place of worship but also a symbol of Kashmir’s shared cultural and religious heritage. They said restoring such sites would help preserve the Valley’s pluralistic traditions while strengthening the confidence of displaced families who continue to maintain ties with their ancestral villages.
Reema Raina Koul, a local resident who frequently visits her ancestral village in Palhallan, told Kashmir Horizon that the temple has remained neglected for years and requires immediate attention from the authorities.
She said the land should be officially demarcated to safeguard the shrine from any future disputes or encroachment and urged the administration to facilitate its reconstruction to preserve the community’s religious and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the local administration said it has not received any formal representation regarding the Palhallan temple and therefore no official process has been initiated so far.
Speaking to Kashmir Horizon, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Pattan, Dr. Gulzar Ahmad, said no delegation has approached his office with a formal request.
“So far, no one has approached our office regarding the temple. If there is any encroachment or any other issue, we will certainly take action in accordance with the law. Whenever we receive a complaint, we act accordingly. So far, no delegation has approached us officially,” the SDM said.
He said the administration is committed to addressing genuine public grievances but can only initiate the process after receiving a formal application. “Once a written representation is submitted, we will verify the revenue records, examine the matter as per the prescribed procedure and, wherever required, carry out the demarcation of the land,” he added.
Officials said any decision regarding demarcation or reconstruction would be taken only after the relevant documents are examined and the legal formalities are completed.
Members of the migrant community said they would soon submit a formal representation to the administration and expressed hope that the authorities would act expeditiously once the official process begins.
