Asks Custodian EP Jammu, Kashmir to issue notices to all persons, departments for liquidation of premium

JAMMU: Commissioner Secretary, Revenue, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, today reviewed the functioning of Evacuee Property Department during an officers’ meeting held here.
Custodian General, Additional Secretary, Revenue Department, Custodian Evacuee Property both Jammu and Kashmir and Deputy Custodian (Central) were present in the meeting.
The Custodian General presented the details of Evacuees’ property in both the divisions of J&K including infrastructure created and annual income generated from these assets, details of encroachment and retrieval of evacuee land besides outstanding rentals against various private persons and government departments. The manpower available for administration and management under J&K Evacuees’ (Administration of Property) Act, 2006 was also explained.
While reviewing the functioning of Evacuee Property Organization, Commissioner Secretary impressed upon the officers and field functionaries to work with dedication and zeal to carry the departmental functioning transparently. He also stressed upon the officers for evolving a mechanism aiming strong monitoring of evacuee land for its better safeguard and gainful utilization.
It was informed in the meeting that the Evacuee Property Department database portal is under development which is likely to be launched by 31st of May, 2022. All the services provided by the department in manual form will be shifted onto web based portal for increased transparency and convenience to all stake holders.
Commissioner Secretary directed the concerned to reconcile the Custodian Evacuee Property in both Jammu and Kashmir with details of evacuee property flats hired by the Estates Department and rented out to private individuals after spot verification. He asked for submitting details of each flat along with name of the occupant whether occupied legally or illegally and take immediate action for resumption of possession of the flat if illegally occupied.
He further directed that the Custodian Evacuee Property Jammu/ Kashmir shall issue notices to all persons and departments for liquidation of outstanding rentals/premium in the first instance, and, if they fail to liquidate the outstanding rentals, action as warranted under law shall be taken against them. It was decided to publish final notices in leading dailies of J&K against individual defaulters to deposit balance amount of premium/ rent within a period of one month, failing which the department shall proceed for cancellation of allotments and carry out evictions.
The meeting also reviewed progress on development of e-auction portal for putting all the properties into e-auction for determining the premium. The department has already approached the J&K Bank to develop and host the e-auction portal and in the first instance 07 semi finished flats at Srinagar are to be put to e-auction.
It was decided that the Custodian Evacuee Property Jammu/Kashmir shall complete the demarcation of prime locations of evacuee land immediately which has already been taken up with concerned revenue agencies and ensure their geo tagging simultaneously. Besides, Deputy Custodians of the districts and Field Inspector shall visit the evacuee property located in their respective jurisdictions and submit action taken report along with details of evacuee property encroached on weekly basis to the concerned Custodians for further course of action.

KR Desk