Gulmarg hotels withdraw HC pleas after J&K govt dispels eviction fears on lease expiry

SRINAGAR: J&K high court has allowed the withdrawal of petitions by hotels facing eviction from Gulmarg properties on the expiry of their lease after the UT govt assured the court that it is open to a fair and viable resolution of the issue.

Additional advocate general Mohsin Qadri informed the court that if the petitioners file representations within two weeks, the competent authority will hear them before taking a decision and communicating the same to each petitioner.

Advocate ZA Shah, appearing for the petitioners, then sought permission to withdraw the pleas to first approach the govt.

The LG administration in 2022 introduced J&K Land Grant Rules under J&K Reorganisation Act 2019, which bars lease extensions after expiry and allows properties to be auctioned under open bidding to any Indian citizen.

Before the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on Aug 5, 2019, land leases were restricted to permanent residents of J&K. Under the new rules, leases of 55 out of 59 hotels in Gulmarg have expired, prompting hoteliers facing eviction to move to the HC.

Qadri told TOI that the petitioners are no longer seeking adjudication before the HC, instead they have confined their relief to the consideration of their representations by the govt.

While the case was still being heard by the court, the UT administration on August 3 last year took over the historic Nedous Hotel, the first property to be sealed after Gulmarg Development Authority issued a 24-hour eviction notice, though the lease had expired in 1985.

Interestingly, National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said that the party will introduce Land Grants Bill in the assembly next week to undo the 2022 J&K Land Grant Rules.
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