SDM Khour Forms Committee for One-Time Settlement of Land Cases Under Army Occupation, Bringing Relief to Over 3,000 Families After 50 Years.
SDM Khour, Satish Sharma, JKAS, initiated action to resolve land acquisition, requisition, and de-requisition cases in the Khour Sub-Division, some dating back 50 years, impacting approximately 49,411 Kanals of land.
SDM Sharma personally assessed the situation through site visits and meetings with affected residents and Army officials from multiple brigades and the DEO Udhampur, demonstrating a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
SDM Sharma established two specialized committees, with representatives from the Revenue Department and Army, to clear all pending cases by March 31, 2025, under the supervision of Tehsildar Khour, ensuring accountability.
The initiative aims to provide justice and rightful ownership or compensation to over 3,991 families (approximately 22,000 individuals), with 45 cases already resolved and payments being processed, marking a major step towards resolving long-standing grievances.
jj correspondent
Khour, Jammu, march 07, 2025: In a decisive move hailed as a victory for the common person, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Khour, Satish Sharma, JKAS, has launched an unprecedented initiative to resolve decades-old land disputes impacting over 4,000 families and approximately 22,000 individuals in the Khour Sub-Division of Jammu. This bold action addresses a legacy of unresolved land acquisition, requisition, and de-requisition cases, some dating back to 1971, that have left many without rightful ownership or compensation for their land, totalling a staggering 49,411 Kanals and 14 Marlas.
For fifty years, numerous families have been caught in bureaucratic limbo, their land utilized by the Army under various schemes, with rental compensation often unpaid and de-requisitioned land not returned to its rightful owners. Previous administrations had failed to address these grievances effectively, leaving a cloud of uncertainty and injustice over the region. However, SDM Satish Sharma, upon taking office, made it his mission to resolve these long-pending issues.
The SDM’s proactive approach involved extensive on-the-ground assessments, numerous meetings with affected communities, and detailed deliberations with Army authorities from the 52nd Brigade and 191st Infantry Brigade, as well as representatives of the Defence Estates Officer (DEO) Udhampur. These consultations, combined with a thorough review of revenue records, revealed the complex scope of the problem: 110 distinct schemes or cases involving two Army Brigades (191 Infantry Brigade and 52 Brigade) and five Army Regiments, encompassing requisition, de-requisition, and acquisition scenarios.
The core issue revolved around the Army’s utilization of private land, with many cases of unpaid rental compensation for requisitioned land and failure to return de-requisitioned land to the original owners, even decades after the expiry of relevant schemes. This inaction had left a significant number of families, 3991 to be exact and impacting 22716, in a precarious situation, their livelihoods and futures jeopardized.
Recognizing the urgent need for action and the immense impact on public trust, SDM Sharma has established a powerful mechanism for a “one-time settlement” of these disputes. Two dedicated committees, one for each Brigade, have been formed, comprising officials from the Revenue Department, representatives from the SO Land of the 52nd Brigade Pallanwala and 191st Infantry Brigade Rakhmuthi, and a representative from the DEO Udhampur. These committees are tasked with clearing all pending requisition and de-requisition issues in a time-bound manner, with a firm deadline of March 31, 2025. The entire process will be overseen by Tehsildar Khour, ensuring accountability and efficiency.
The Order, issued by the Office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate Khour, acknowledges the repeated requests from affected residents and the SDM’s personal commitment to finding a resolution. It highlights the fact that 45 cases, involving approximately 9,872 Kanals of land and benefiting around 6,250 individuals, have already been resolved and uploaded to an online portal, with payments being disbursed to the beneficiaries.
This ground-breaking initiative by SDM Satish Sharma represents a significant step towards restoring justice and fairness to thousands of families who have waited for generations for their land rights to be recognized. It is a testament to the power of dedicated public service and a commitment to resolving long-standing grievances, setting a precedent for future dispute resolution in the region. The deadline of 31-03-2025 and direct involvement of SDM and Tehsildar demonstrates seriousness.
