A decision by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to deny renewals for expired leases on government land and freshly lease out the plots has triggered fears that it wants to “snatch” land from local people to benefit “outsiders”.’

While non-Kashmiris always had the right to take government land on lease in Jammu and Kashmir, the overwhelming majority of existing lessees are local people. Hundreds of hotels, schools and other institutions have come up on leased land over the decades.

However, a new government notification, which rules out the renewal of expired leases, says the fresh leases will be given for “self-employment or for housing purposes of ex-servicemen, war widows, families of deprivation categories (as per latest socioeconomic census), specially abled persons (divyang), families of martyr(s) (one who has sacrificed his life in the line of duty for the sake of nation), migrant workers/ building and other construction workers.”

Apart from the migrant workers, the ex-servicemen and war widows, especially, are likely to be non-Kashmiris. The notification says nothing about the outgoing lessees having the right of first refusal.

The government is expected to exercise its discretion in deciding who to grant the fresh leases to. If bidding is held for commercial properties like hotels — with the existing lessees compensated if they have built the structures themselves — big companies from outside should be able to easily outbid local rivals.

An empowered committee headed by the financial commissioner, revenue, and made up of officials from various departments will “identify and designate land and the purpose for grant of the lease”.

“Its function would also be to recommend the period of grant of lease, which shall ordinarily be for 40 years,” says the notification on the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022.

The government says the Rules have been notified under a 1960 law. The Rules say the leases will be granted for “development” purposes such as education, healthcare, agriculture and allied activities, tourism, skill development, and infrastructure and industrial projects.

Existing leases given out for residential purposes are among a small category that is exempt from the notification, and will be renewed. Others whose leases expire must immediately hand over possession of the land, failing which they will be evicted.

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said the administration was bent on arbitrarily evicting local people, institutions, tourism players, hoteliers and businesses occupying leased land.

“At least, people who kept these institutions, structures and businesses alive in difficult times should get the first chance. Fix the rate and tell them to submit the money,” Omar said.

Mehbooba said the move was a replica of Israel’s policy in occupied Palestine. She said the BJP had no answer to China’s incursions but wanted to “grab our resources and now our land”.