CM workplace, Raj Bhawan submit separate stands to J&Okay High Court on Gulmarg lease concern

The J&Okay Chief Minister’s workplace and the Raj Bhawan on Tuesday (August12, 2025) submitted two separate positions to the J&Okay High Court that was listening to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Gulmarg, a hill resort in north Kashmir that draws high-end vacationers to the Valley round-the-year.

The Division Bench, comprising J&Okay Chief Justice Arun Palli and justice Rajnesh Oswal, was knowledgeable by Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin-ul-Showkat Qadri that there have been two separate replies from the Chief Minister’s workplace and the Lieutenant Governor’s workplace. These have been produced earlier than the courtroom in a sealed cowl.

The courtroom was listening to the PIL on environmental issues of Gulmarg and the latest eviction of householders of the Nedou’s Hotel in Gulmarg after 137 years of possession. Justice Palli and Justice Oswal, whereas being attentive to the 2 separate replies, determined to listen to the case once more on August 28, 2025.

However, J&Okay Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed displeasure over the Raj Bhawan’s transfer. Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Abdullah stated, “Until not too long ago the L-G has continued to take care of that he solely has duty for safety and Law and Order. Now instantly he’s bought concerned on this. It’s unlucky that the elected authorities is sought to be undermined by the unelected authorities”.

Around 55 inns out of 59 may go beneath the hammer due to the shortage of lease extensions in Gulmarg. The J&Okay Land Grant Rules-2022, which changed the J&Okay Land Grants Rules-1960, launched by the L-G in 2022 barred extension in case of lease expiry. The L-G administration had requested the outgoing lease holders to evict properties or else face evictions beneath the brand new guidelines. However, the present land holders termed these guidelines “unique to J&Okay the place the primary proper to lease-holders has not been granted and revised charges negotiated”.

Many leaseholders have already challenged the brand new guidelines earlier than the courtroom. During the L-G rule, it was determined that an knowledgeable committee will enlist all properties the place lease had ended and might be e-auctioned afresh. For the primary time, the sooner bar that solely locals may apply for lease of land has been executed away with. The new guidelines as an alternative open bidding to “any individual legally competent beneath Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.” In the previous, no land in Gulmarg was granted on lease to any individual who was not a everlasting resident of the erstwhile state of J&Okay.