As many as 3,129 kanals and 4 marlas of land belonging to displaced Kashmiri Pandits have been retrieved and restored across the 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley.

This substantial chunk of land had been under encroachment, and authorities launched a comprehensive drive to reclaim it after receiving complaints from Kashmiri migrants living in different parts of the country.

In a document tabled in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the government informed that the retrieval process has been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection, and Restraint of Distress Sales) Act, 1997, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates, who are designated as custodians of migrant properties.

The government further stated that, as per the latest information received from the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, land measuring 3,729 kanals and 4 marlas has been retrieved and handed over to the rightful beneficiaries so far. Of this, 844 kanals and 4 marlas have been retrieved and restored since November 2024.

Sharing details of complaints received from Kashmiri migrants regarding encroachment on their land, the government said that 10,173 applications were submitted through both online and offline modes. Out of these, 9,713 applications have been disposed of by the concerned district magistrates. As many as 7,829 applications were approved, while only 24 applications are pending.

“Complaints are being received through both online and offline modes. All offline complaints are being uploaded onto the portal to ensure a unified and transparent mechanism for disposal,” the government said, adding, “An online grievance redressal portal has been established in terms of Government Order No. 53-JK(Rev) of 2021 dated August 13, 2021, for registration and monitoring of complaints to migrants’ immovable properties.”

A steering committee was constituted to ensure time-bound action

The government further informed that, to strengthen monitoring and ensure time-bound action, it has constituted a steering committee vide Government Order No. 65-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated January 15, 2026. The first meeting of the committee was held on January 26, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department.

The committee reviewed the implementation of the Act and issued detailed directions to further streamline the process of protection and restoration of migrant properties.

Quoting the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection, and Restraint of Distress Sales) Act, 1997, the government said that the Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates of the concerned districts are custodians of migrants’ immovable properties in their respective jurisdictions.

Further, vide Government Order No. 741-JK(GAD) of 2025 dated June 19, 2025, the Additional Deputy Commissioners have been designated as nodal officers to ensure expeditious disposal of issues to migrant properties.

It was also informed that the government has established a comprehensive legal, administrative, and technological framework to ensure time-bound restoration of migrant properties and the overall welfare of Kashmiri migrant families.

The process is being actively monitored at multiple levels and is being pursued on priority to ensure the security, dignity, and rehabilitation of the affected families.

Key directions issued to Deputy Commissioners

The Steering Committee has issued the following directions to ensure effective implementation:

• Registration of FIRs: In cases involving encroachment or criminal misconduct, FIRs shall be registered, with provisions for online initiation through the portal.








• Geo-tagged inventory: All deputy commissioners shall update and maintain a geo-tagged inventory of migrant properties. Property owners shall be provided secure access for verification.








• Transparent handover of property: Retrieved land shall be handed over to rightful owners in the presence of representatives of the Relief Organisation (Migrants).








• Demarcation of properties: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, shall constitute a committee to address issues relating to the demarcation of migrant land and community assets.








• Updation of revenue records: Migrant land records shall be updated after every girdawari, reflecting the status of retrieval.








• Monitoring of encroachments: The IGP Kashmir shall monitor FIRs and eviction proceedings, while the Divisional Commissioner shall maintain consolidated records of retrieved properties.