80 percent of land belonging to Kashmiri Pandit migrants in district Kupwara remains unsold, according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara.
The RTI application was filed by Vijay Kashkari, a resident of Kartar House-187, Housing Board Colony, Jharsa Road, Sector-15, Part-2, Gurgaon, Haryana, seeking information on the status of immovable properties of Kashmiri migrants under the RTI Act, 2005. In response, the Assistant Revenue Attorney, under the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, confirmed that as per the migrant inventory, 80 percent of land belonging to Kashmiri migrants in Kupwara district has not been sold to date.
Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley in 1990s due to insurgency, despite multiple government assurances and legal provisions such as the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection, and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, the process of reclaiming or legally disposing of their ancestral land remains a challenge.
“This reinforces our stand of an independent research & survey done by Whetstone agency, which says 66.6% of Kashmiri Pandits still own lands back in the valley,” said Ravindra Pandita. “We urge all District Development Commissioners to come out with respective data so that a final consolidated land survey is known village-wise.”
Pandita also highlighted that the All-India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) is fighting a court case (OWP No: 477/2016) in the High Court of J&K and Ladakh on this matter, with the next hearing scheduled for 15.02.2025.
A copy of the RTI response, dated January 29, 2025, signed by the Incharge of the Migrant/Grievance Cell, DC Office, Kupwara, further highlights the need for attention to the difficulty of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
Kashmiri Pandit activists, while reacting to the RTI findings, stated, “This is another stark reminder that our displacement continues. Despite promises, a majority of Pandit land remains unsold, either due to encroachment, bureaucratic hurdles, or the sheer uncertainty of return.”
Rajesh Koul, a displaced Kashmiri Pandit now living in Jammu, expressed frustration, saying, “Even those who wish to sell their properties face difficulties. The government must ensure that our lands are either protected for our return or that the sale process is made transparent and hassle-free.”
The RTI response brings renewed focus on the effectiveness of government policies aimed at addressing the concerns of Kashmiri migrants. While schemes exist to protect and facilitate the sale of Pandit properties, ground realities suggest that implementation remains weak.
With 80 percent of their land in Kupwara still unsold, Kashmiri Pandits continue to await a resolution that either paves the way for their dignified return or allows them to rightfully manage their properties without legal or procedural obstructions. RK
