HC seeks compliance report on Rs 181.54 crore compensation for Budgam landowners

Srinagar, Jun 7: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has asked the Defence Estates Officer Kashmir Circle to file a compliance report certifying that an amount of Rs 181,54,33,010 has been credited in favour of the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam for disbursement of land compensation to the lawful owners after due verification.

A bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal sought the report after hearing S N Ratanpuri on behalf of the petitioners and DSGI, T S Shamsi for Union of India.

As the matter came up, the DSGI placed on record a copy of communication dated June 2, 2026 issued by the Defence Estates Officer, Kashmir Circle, Srinagar, whereby a bill on account of part payment of compensation amounting to Rs 231,87,47,585 in respect of acquired land measuring 3803 Kanals and 10 Marlas, situated at Karewa Damodar, Kralpora Wathoora, Budgam, has been forwarded for pre-audit and payment order to the concerned Defense Estates Officer.

Along with the communication, the DSGI also produced a copy of the bill revealing that an amount of Rs 181,54,33,010 had already been approved and the same would be deposited with the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, being the payee.

Accordingly, the DSGI submitted that the amount would be credited into the account of the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam shortly and sought two weeks’ further time to file a fresh compliance report

Taking both the communication as well as the bill relating to acquisition of land on record, the court asked the DSGI to file a fresh compliance report within two weeks positively with a copy in advance to the counsel for the petitioners.

Moreover, DSGI submitted that as per the instructions, the respondents were also contemplating to release the balance amount as well so that the compensation is disbursed to the lawful claimants expeditiously.

The dispute pertains to the acquisition of land situated at Karewa Damodhar, Wathoora and Kralpora villages in Budgam district, owned by the petitioners, 251 in number, and other landholders. As per the petition, the land had been under the occupation of the Armed Forces since 1952 and was subsequently requisitioned from time to time. The landowners were paid rent under the Jammu and Kashmir Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1968, with periodic revisions every five years. The petitioners approached the High Court in a representative capacity, seeking various directions concerning the long-pending acquisition of the requisitioned land. The writ petition was disposed of on April 3, 2025, with the Court directing the authorities to carry the acquisition process to its logical conclusion within a reasonable time. The Court observed that even the Supreme Court, in its order dated December 14, 2009, had prescribed a timeline for completing the exercise, which had long since expired without any final action being taken.

While disposing of the petition, the High Court also granted liberty to individual landowners or groups of landowners to approach the Court afresh if they felt that the authorities were resorting to delaying tactics despite being afforded reasonable time to act. Dissatisfied with the absence of a specific deadline in the April 3, 2025 order, the petitioners filed an appeal before a Division Bench. on April 25, 2025, the Division Bench disposed of the appeal and directed the Union of India to complete the exercise envisaged in the writ court’s order within six months. According to the petitioners, the six-month period expired on October 2, 2025, but the authorities failed to take any meaningful steps towards implementing the directions issued by the High Court and the Supreme Court. They contend that despite repeated judicial directions, the acquisition process remains incomplete, prompting them to once again approach the High Court seeking redressal of their grievances.