J&K Government revises land rent rate for Defence forces

Srinagar, Jan 29: In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir government has announced a revision in the rent of land allocated to the defence forces in the Union Territory.

The revision is set to take effect from February 2018.

Secretary of Revenue, G Prasanna Ramaswamy, issued a formal order addressing the revision of rent rates for properties under Defence forces in J&K for the period of February 16, 2018, to February 15, 2023.

“This directive, by the endorsement by the Defence Ministry, signifies a systematic adjustment in the rent rates for properties utilised by the Defence forces stationed in Jammu and Kashmir. The order reflects the collaborative efforts between J&K’s administrative authorities and the Defence Ministry to ensure a transparent and updated framework for determining rent rates, encompassing the specific period mentioned,” said a senior Revenue Department official.

According to the recent order issued by the J&K government, the revised rent structure for land under Defence forces has been categorised into different classes.

Under Class 1, the rent for irrigated land is fixed at Rs 6793 per kanal per annum, while for irrigated double-cropped land, it is set at Rs 8429 per kanal per annum.

In Class 2, as classified by the Revenue Department, the rent for irrigated land is established at Rs 6600 per kanal per annum, and for un-irrigated land in the same category, it is set at Rs 2866 per kanal per annum.

In Class 3, uncultivable land under defence forces has designated a rent of Rs 1845 per kanal per annum.

For fruit-bearing orchards, the rent has been fixed at Rs 20,625 per kanal per annum by the Revenue Department.

Additionally, lands falling under Municipal Corporation in Srinagar and Jammu, and cantonment areas in Srinagar and Jammu will have a rent rate of Rs 69,609 per kanal per annum.

For land falling under municipal councils, the revised rent structure mandates the Defence forces to pay Rs 34,804 per kanal per annum.

Similarly, for land under municipal committees, the designated rent is set at Rs 20,445 per kanal per annum.

“This comprehensive revision aims to provide a fair and standardised framework for determining land rent, considering various categories and characteristics of the land under the defence forces in J&K,” the official said.