Srinagar, June 16: The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Union Territory administration on a petition seeking allotment of land in Srinagar for establishing a housing colony for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
Justice Shahzad Azeem issued notice on a plea filed by the Displaced Kashmiri Residents Housing Cooperative Society.
The petition seeks directions to the government to implement the rehabilitation framework envisaged in the 137th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (February 2009), along with subsequent Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet decisions and government orders aimed at facilitating the return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
According to the plea, the parliamentary panel had recommended comprehensive measures, including housing facilities, for the reintegration of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. The then state government had also approved a comprehensive rehabilitation package in this regard.
The Society further sought implementation of commitments made by the then Chief Secretary before the Supreme Court in 2009. The petition stated that the Chief Secretary had outlined a rehabilitation package worth ₹1,618.40 crore for displaced persons, following which the apex court expressed hope that the government would take all necessary steps to rehabilitate victims of terrorism.
The petitioner informed the High Court that in 2024, the government invited bids for developing housing colonies under the public-private partnership model. The Society submitted its Expression of Interest (EOI) on September 2, 2024, proposing a dedicated housing project to support the return and rehabilitation of those displaced during the 1990 exodus.
However, despite repeated representations to various government departments since January 2025 seeking land allotment and administrative support, no decision has been taken by the authorities, the petition stated.
Advocates Satya Anand Sabharwal, Sikander Hyaat and Numan Zargar appeared for the petitioner.
( With inputs from Bar & Bench)
