GDA Shuts Down 137-Year-Old Nedous Hotel Over Lease Lapse

SRINAGAR: Days after the issuance of a formal eviction notice, authorities sealed and took over the iconic 137-year-old Nedous Hotel in Gulmarg. The action was carried out by the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), following orders from the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir.

The eviction notice, served on August 01 under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988, directed the immediate vacation and handover of Hotel Nedous, which was declared as being under unauthorised occupation.

The Assistant Director of Tourism, Gulmarg, was tasked with taking possession of the property and handing it over to the GDA within 24 hours of the notice, while the District Magistrate of Baramulla was asked to deploy a magistrate and adequate police personnel to ensure the eviction was carried out peacefully and in accordance with law.

Spanning over 98 kanals and 11 marlas of government land, the hotel, as per the details, had operated under multiple leases that expired in 1985 and were never renewed. The JK government rejected the lease in February 2015. Later, the JK High Court too dismissed the hotel’s plea for lease renewal and declared an unauthorised occupant under the JK Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988.

Originally established in 1888 by Michael Adam Nedou, the hotel has deep historical roots. It was linked to the influential Abdullah family through marriage, Nedou’s granddaughter, Akbar Jahan, married Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is also related to the Nedou family. (KNO)