SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has introduced or amended 18 policies, rules and regulations in the urban development sector since April 2025, while stating that there is currently no proposal to regularise the approximately 10-foot strips encroached upon by plot holders in Gandhi Nagar Housing Colony.
The details were provided by the Housing and Urban Development Department in response to Unstarred Assembly Question No. 1/6/156 tabled by Vikram Randhawa, MLA from Bahu.
Among the measures notified since April 2025 are amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2021, the Jammu and Kashmir Parking Policy, 2026, amendments to municipal election rules, the Jammu and Kashmir Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Policy, 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir Tenancy Rules, 2026, and the Jammu and Kashmir Parking Rules, 2026.
The Government also notified the Jammu and Kashmir Policy for Grant and Utilisation of Transferable Development Rights (TDR), 2026 and the Jammu and Kashmir Land Pooling Policy, 2026 on August 17, 2026.
The other measures include amendments to the Scheme for Levy of Charges under the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970; two Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation (Removal of Difficulties) Orders; Jammu Municipal Corporation Gazetted and Subordinate Service Recruitment Rules, 2026; and provisions extending the Unified Building Bye-Laws to Housing Board colonies.
The department said it has also undertaken digitisation and Auto DCR-based processing of building permission and Change of Land Use cases, integrated with GIS-based Master Plans. The stated objective is to improve transparency, reduce processing time and ensure compliance with planning and building regulations.
Several further policy initiatives are under consideration, including the Jammu and Kashmir Circular Economy Policy, Common Duct Policy for J&K, Jammu and Kashmir Urban Asset Mapping and Monetisation Policy, and another amendment to the Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2021.
The Government said these proposals would be notified after completion of the required formalities and approval by the competent authority.
On allegations that elected legislators and stakeholders had not been consulted during the process, the department said policy and regulatory changes are undertaken according to the applicable statutory procedure.
It said stakeholder consultation, publication and invitations for objections or suggestions are carried out wherever required under the relevant statutory provisions, and submissions received are examined by the competent authority before finalisation.
Unified Lease Policy
On objections raised by Residents Welfare Associations of Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Channi Himmat, including their request for an additional month to submit representations on the proposed Uniform Lease Policy, the Government said the draft policy had initially been circulated for suggestions and objections from stakeholders.
The department said the representations received were considered, following which it decided to formulate comprehensive rules instead of proceeding with the proposed policy.
It is now preparing the Jammu and Kashmir Urban Public Land Allotment, Lease and Management Rules, 2026. The draft will be placed in the public domain for suggestions and objections before being finalised.
Gandhi Nagar 10-foot strips
On the long-standing issue involving approximately 10-foot strips in front of plots in Gandhi Nagar Housing Colony, the Government said the JK Housing Board has been responsible for processing and settling cases concerning transfer of ownership rights in Government colonies under Government Order No. 150-HUD of 2018 dated April 18, 2018.
According to the Housing Board’s exercise, encroachments have been identified along eight roads in Gandhi Nagar, where some allottees have extended plot boundary walls into road or green strips by about 10 feet.
The encroached area has been assessed at approximately 43 kanals, extending along around 11 kilometres of roads.
The Housing Board had issued notices to the concerned allottees and transferees through print media under No. HB/7710-11 dated October 6, 2021. It had also provided the list of affected roads to the Jammu Municipal Corporation through letter No. HB/685 dated April, 27 2021 for further necessary action.
The Government said there is no proposal at present to regularise the additional 10-foot strip.
It added that while processing applications for transfer of ownership rights or issuing no-objection certificates for building permissions, the Housing Board ensures that the encroached strip is vacated.
Plot division not allowed
The Government also clarified that division or bifurcation of allotted plots among legal heirs or siblings is not permitted.
Under guidelines issued on December 14, 2016, division or changes to the original status of plots are prohibited.
The Uniform Policy adopted by the Housing Board through JKB Order No. 19 of 2022 dated March 11, 2022 also bars division or bifurcation of allotted plots.
However, all legal heirs of an original allottee may be transferred the property as co-sharers. No building permission can be granted on the basis of a divided plot, while the setback prescribed under the Master Plan must be maintained for the original undivided plot.
The department said cases are being dealt with according to the guidelines issued from time to time.
