Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Friday after BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa alleged that a significant portion of government land in Jammu city has been encroached upon by people hailing from the Kashmir Valley.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Randhawa claimed that large tracts of land belonging to the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and the government were under illegal occupation and that the authorities had failed to act decisively. He further alleged that nearly 90 per cent of the habitations on the encroached land belonged to people from the Valley. “We have no objection if Kashmiris legally purchase land and build houses in Jammu, but construction on government land cannot be allowed,” he said, demanding a probe and immediate removal of encroachments in his constituency.
Responding on behalf of the Chief Minister, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo rejected the allegations and cautioned against viewing the issue through a regional lens. She informed the House that, as per official records, 688 kanals and 17 marlas of land in Tehsil Bahu and 579 kanals in Tehsil Jammu South are under illegal encroachment. Since January 2025, 34 anti-encroachment drives have been conducted in the two tehsils, resulting in the retrieval of 140 kanals and 11 marlas of JDA land.
“These encroachments are old and are being addressed under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act and other relevant laws,” Itoo said, adding that fencing and signboards have been installed to prevent fresh encroachments. She also stated that field teams comprising junior engineers, patwaris and other officials regularly monitor vulnerable areas and report any violations.
The minister further assured the House that the JDA has adequate manpower and receives full cooperation from the Jammu Municipal Corporation, the Revenue Department and local police during eviction drives. On action against officials found negligent, she said disciplinary measures—including warnings, departmental proceedings, suspensions and red entries in service records—have been initiated where warranted. Red entries, she noted, have been made in the service books of two officials in connection with alleged encroachments in Tehsil Jammu South.
Unsatisfied with the response, Randhawa walked into the well of the House holding documents and demanding a list of encroachers. The situation triggered protests from ruling National Conference members, who objected to his remarks. Later, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, the BJP MLA alleged that the government was withholding the list of encroachers because they belonged to the Valley—a charge the minister had earlier firmly dismissed.
The issue added fresh political friction to the ongoing session, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding land, regional identity, and governance in the Union Territory.
