The discussion about Hindus and temples in Jammu and Kashmir has started once again. There will now be an SIT inquiry into the matter of not protecting the temples. Based on the evidence provided by the JK Peace Forum, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered an SIT probe into illegal leasing and illegal use of temple properties in Kashmir.
Significantly, the Kashmir-based NGO has alleged that in the last 33 years no government has taken any initiative to protect the temple properties of the minorities of Kashmir. Despite repeated court orders, temple properties were illegally leased or sold. Temples in Jammu and Kashmir were not protected even after the court’s order.
Instructions given to officers
The state government has constituted an SIT to probe the issue of leasing of temple land in the Kashmir Valley. Adil Farid, Associate in the Office of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, has directed all the District Deputy Commissioners in the valley to mark all those cases in their respective jurisdictions in which temple properties have been illegally leased.
A detailed report should be submitted to the Divisional Commissioner’s office within a week to submit its complete details and the work done to get rid of the illegally leased land. Apart from this, all the district deputy commissioners have also been asked to submit the complete details of the religious places of Kashmiri Hindus and other minorities and their related assets in their jurisdiction.
JK Peace Forum President Satish Mahaldar said, “The Jammu and Kashmir administration and the revenue department have failed to protect the temple properties and have been unable to vacate the illegal encroachments made on the temple properties and premises over the past several decades.” Since then the land of the temple has been illegally leased to the workers by the concerned management, even after the court order to vacate it has not been implemented.
Previous government could not protect Hindu properties
JK Peace Forum President Satish Mahaldar said that we are grateful to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for ordering an SIT probe into the matter. Mahaldar said that we also want to draw your attention to the bitter truth that the previous governments of Jammu and Kashmir have failed to protect Hindu minority properties in Kashmir.
He said that the property of Hindus was either illegally grabbed or given on lease in someone else’s name with the connivance of the government. The administration has never paid attention to this till now, nor has it been able to stop the misuse of temples.
Despite repeated court orders and the Kashmir Immovable Property (Protection, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sale) Act, 1997, temple properties have been illegally leased out. Now we are fighting for our rights.
Mahaldar said that the J&K administration and the revenue department have failed to protect the properties of the temple and have been unable to vacate the properties and premises of the temple. Now Hindus will get justice after the Lieutenant Governor’s order for SIT investigation.
The land was grabbed due to the absence of Kashmiri Pandits
Satish Mahaldar, president of the JK Peace Forum, told that after the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus in the valley, their land and property was grabbed. In the absence of the Kashmiri Pandit community in the Valley, a select few, in connivance with J&K government officials, operated dormant temple trusts between 1989 and 2022 and sold or leased out temple properties.
Action should be taken against those who rigged
Mahaldar said that we suspect that the Jammu and Kashmir government and administration is protecting its employees, who are involved in selling temple properties. Those government officials who along with a select group of people usurped temple lands between 1989-2022 should also be identified.
He further said that action should be taken against those running defunct temple trusts and those illegally selling and leasing temple properties in Kashmir.
