J&K&L High Court Seeks Admin's Response On Plea Flagging Unfulfilled Commitment To Allot Land For Displaced Kashmiri Pandits' Housing Colony

The Court issued notice in a petition filed by a cooperative society representing displaced Kashmiri residents seeking allotment of land for establishment of a residential colony aimed at facilitating their rehabilitation and return to the Valley.

Justice Shahzad Azeem passed the order on a petition preferred by the Displaced Kashmiri Residents Housing Cooperative Society, which contends that despite repeated representations and an earlier assurance made by the then Chief Secretary before the Supreme Court, no land has been allotted for the proposed housing project.

According to the petition, the society was formed to secure residential accommodation for Kashmiri Pandits who were displaced from the Valley and continue to reside outside their native places following their migration. The petitioners submit that the allotment of land was contemplated as part of efforts aimed at facilitating their rehabilitation and dignified return to Kashmir.

The plea asserts that in proceedings before the Supreme Court in 2009, the then Chief Secretary of the erstwhile State had undertaken to identify and allot suitable land in Srinagar for development of a housing colony for displaced Kashmiri Pandits. However, despite the passage of several years and repeated follow-up efforts, the commitment has allegedly not been translated into action.

The society further apprised the Court that a government-initiated tender process in 2024, under a public-private partnership arrangement, opened the door for housing colony developments. In response, the society lodged its Expression of Interest on September 2 of that year, with a clear focus on facilitating the repatriation and rehabilitation of persons displaced during the 1990 exodus.

To date, however, no ruling has been issued on the proposal, even though the society has bombarded the concerned departments with reminders since January 2025, seeking both land allocation and logistical backing, all of which have met with official silence, the bench was told.

The petitioners have urged the High Court to direct the authorities to honour the commitment and allot an appropriate parcel of land in Srinagar so that members of the displaced community may establish a housing colony and secure permanent residential accommodation in the Valley.

Taking note of the submissions, Justice Shahzad Azeem issued notice and sought a response from the Union Territory administration on the grievances raised in the petition. The matter has been scheduled on August 04, 2026 for further proceedings.

Case Title: Displaced Kashmiri Residents Housing Cooperative Society v. Union Territory of J&K & Ors.