Conventional settlement operations in J&K closed in 2014: Govt

Srinagar, Sep 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that the conventional settlement operations in J&K were closed in 2014, with the focus thereafter shifting towards maintenance, updating, computerisation and digitisation of land records.
The information was given by the Revenue Department in a written reply to Starred Question No. 68 raised by MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para in the Legislative Assembly.
The government said that the settlement operations undertaken from the 1990s onwards focused on re-survey, updating and correction of land records necessitated by changes in land use, ownership and ageing of earlier settlement records.
According to the district-wise details furnished by the department, J&K has 6,855 villages, of which settlement has been completed in 1,889 villages. At present, the settlement process is underway in one village—Tujar Pehlihaar in Baramulla district.
The highest number of completed settlements was reported in Jammu district at 419 villages, followed by Budgam with 278, Pulwama 199, Kulgam 175, Udhampur 174, Kathua 150, Anantnag 74, Kupwara 64, Ganderbal 58, Baramulla 46, Reasi 36, Samba 36, Srinagar 33, Rajouri 19, Bandipora 7 and Doda 3. No completed settlements were reported in Kishtwar and Poonch.
On complaints regarding errors or discrepancies in settlement records, the Government said 2,521 complaints had been received across the districts, out of which 1,427 had been disposed of.
District-wise, Jammu recorded the highest number of complaints at 962, followed by Udhampur with 426, Srinagar 304, Pulwama 195, Kathua 141, Ganderbal 140, Ramban 122, Budgam 79, Reasi 18, Anantnag 36, Kupwara 28, Rajouri 5, Baramulla 45, Bandipora 10 and Shopian 10. No complaints were reported from Doda, Kishtwar, Samba, Poonch and Kulgam.
The government said the estimated timeline for disposal of the pending complaints is six to eight months.
Regarding the fresh settlement process, the Government, citing a report of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir through letter No. DivCom/LSR/D.No.68/2026/1188 dated September 15, 2026, said that only Tujar Pehlihaar village in Baramulla district is presently under fresh settlement.
The fresh settlement process in the village is expected to be completed in 2027, the reply said.
On the district-wise area of land affected by errors or discrepancies in settlement records, the Government said settlement operations in J&K ended in 2014 and that any errors or discrepancies noticed in the records are dealt with under the statutory mechanism prescribed under the J&K Land Revenue Act.
It said provisions relating to correction of entries and redressal of grievances are followed, with cases being dealt with on a case-to-case basis by the competent Revenue authorities under Section 27 of the J&K Land Revenue Act.
The reply was furnished by the Minister In-Charge, Revenue Department. (KNO)