Srinagar| Sept, 16: The Jammu and Kashmir government has initiated eviction proceedings against occupants of Nazool land in Srinagar whose leases have expired and have not been renewed by the competent authority.
Eviction notices have been issued to occupants of government land in several parts of the city, including Polo View near Lal Chowk, Rajbagh and Karan Nagar, officials said.
Among the properties facing eviction proceedings is the white building of the Mohi-ud-Din Trust at Polo View. The Estates Officer has directed the Trust to vacate the premises and hand over possession by September 21.
The eviction order was issued by the Assistant Commissioner Nazool/Estates Officer, Srinagar, under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988.
According to the order, the Trust had earlier been asked on August 5 to submit documents establishing its authority to continue occupying the property. The government said the documents submitted did not establish the existence of a valid lease or an order renewing or extending the lease.
The order subsequently directed the Trust to vacate the premises within the stipulated period and warned that failure to comply could lead to further action for eviction and taking over of the property.
Officials said similar notices have been issued to establishments in Rajbagh and Karan Nagar where commercial properties are located on Nazool land and lease or rent-related conditions have not been complied with.
Nazool land refers to government-owned land held and administered by the government under applicable rules and lease arrangements. Occupation of such land is subject to the terms of the relevant lease and orders of the competent authority.
Official figures cited in the matter show that more than 58,000 kanals of government land across Jammu and Kashmir is classified as Nazool land. Of this, more than 50,000 kanals are in Jammu division and over 7,000 kanals in Kashmir division.
In Srinagar and Jammu cities, commercial establishments collectively occupy more than 5,600 kanals of Nazool land, according to the figures cited.
