J&K Govt says 1,267 Kanals under encroachment in Jammu, house sees uproar

Jammu, Feb 13: J&K Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed uproar when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vikram Randhawa alleged that around 690 kanals of JDA land was under illegal encroachment in his assembly constituency and “around 90 percent of that land was encroached by people from Kashmir.”

While raising supplementary to his main question, Randhawa said, “This is a matter of grave concern for the entire House that 16212 kanals of JDA land has been encroached in Jammu and out of it, 690 kanals of land has been encroached in my constituency.”

“This is very unfortunate. No work is being done on Jammu Master Plan 2032. There is no clear cut demarcation of JDA land. JDA does not reach where encroachments are taking place. They (treasury benches) will object to it but 90 percent of JDA land has been captured by Kashmiris,” Randhawa continued.

His remarks created an uproar in the House as the MLAs raised objections.

Randhawa stated, “We would have no objection if Kashmiris construct their houses by buying the land but they are encroaching state land. No action is being taken to evict these encroachments.”

Minister for Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo, who had earlier replied to his question on behalf of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, responding to his charges stated, “To encroach any land is illegal whether it happens in Jammu or in Kashmir. But you bring Jammu versus Kashmir plank every time and everywhere.”

Earlier sharing details, the Minister informed that land measuring 688 kanal 17 marla in Tehsil Bahu and 579 kanal in Tehsil Jammu South were under illegal encroachment. She added that these encroachments were old and were being removed as per the provisions of J&K Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988 and other relevant laws.

“140 kanal and 11 marla of encroached land has been retrieved during 34 anti-encroachment drives carried out in Bahu and Jammu South Tehsils since January, 2025,” she stated.

Itoo added that fencing and installation of sign boards was also being done to prevent future encroachments and protect the already retrieved land from the encroachers.

The Minister said that teams comprising the concerned JE, Patwari, incharge KWI regularly visit the areas within their jurisdictions and immediately report on any attempt to encroach JDA land.

Itoo informed the House that the JDA had sufficient manpower and when required, JMC, Revenue Departments and local police would extend full cooperation for eviction and encroachment drives.

She said that appropriate action like issuance of warnings, initiation of RDAs, red entries in Service books, suspensions, revoking of increments were taken against the delinquent officers and officials of JDA found involved in illegal encroachments.

The Minister added that responsibility was fixed strictly in accordance with the law upon due verification while following the prescribed procedure.

Later, outside the J&K Legislature, speaking to media persons, Randhawa said that the encroachment was a sinister design to change demography.

“I’m not provided with details of encroachers. Rohingyas are also living there.  I’m saying that the land mafia is being facilitated by the government to change demography. We will have no objection if the Kashmiris construct houses by buying land. They should not encroach state land,” he said.

His remarks were condemned by several members in and outside the House.

MLA Sajad Lone, while participating in the debate on demands for grants of the departments under the charge of Minister Javed Rana, condemned Randhawa’s remarks.

PPD MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, while speaking to the media outside J&K Legislature, criticized Randhawa for seeing encroachment through religious and regional prism.

Later during the second sitting, when PDP MLA Rafiq Naik was participating in the debate, Itoo raised a point of order.

“While speaking to the media, outside the House, BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa said that Kashmiri Muslims would not be allowed to settle in Jammu. The member should not have said that,” Itoo said.

Randhawa countered, “I did not say that. I said that the people of Kashmir can settle in Jammu but by buying land. Land grabbing should not be allowed to happen.”

National Conference MLA Altaf Kaloo said, “He is telling lies. We are getting calls from Kashmir about his statement.”

Speaker A R Rather said that the matter had come on the record.