Leh, September 4: The long-standing issue concerning the regularisation of ‘nautor lands’ in Ladakh has been resolved, with the Union Territory’s Lieutenant Governor approving new rules that will grant proprietary rights to thousands of eligible landholders. The decision impacts over 60,000 acres of government-owned barren or wasteland historically allotted for cultivation and other productive uses.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the newly introduced Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Nautor Regularisation) Rules, 2026, establish a comprehensive framework for granting proprietary rights. These rules apply to occupants across all seven districts of Ladakh, with a provision for proprietary rights over up to 10 acres of eligible nautor land. Land exceeding this limit may be allocated on a leasehold basis, adhering to the stipulated regulations.
A key aspect of the new framework is the one-time regularisation mechanism for nautor land that was occupied prior to October 27, 2020. This cut-off date marks the repeal of the Jammu and Kashmir Tenancy Act, 1980. Any possession of nautor land established after this specified date will not be eligible for regularisation under these new rules.
The authority to allot nautor land has been vested with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in all seven districts. This aligns with Section 42 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, which transfers land within districts to the Councils, and Clause (i) of Section 23, which grants executive powers to the Councils concerning the allotment, use, and occupation of vested land.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena stated that the rules aim to strike a balance between protecting the rights of genuine landholders and safeguarding public and Council land from encroachment and unauthorised claims. He highlighted the deep historical connection between the nautor issue and the livelihoods of Ladakh’s residents, acknowledging generations of hard work in cultivating barren lands under challenging environmental conditions.
The newly established rules are expected to provide a transparent and uniform mechanism to address this protracted issue, offering legal certainty to legitimate holders. Furthermore, it is anticipated that this regularisation will enable such land to be recognised as a financial asset, facilitating access to services such as bank loans for the landholders.
Previously, the absence of a clear and uniform legal framework had hindered the effective utilisation of nautor land. Holders who lacked proprietary rights were consequently unable to leverage their land as a financial asset, impacting their ability to obtain loans. The new framework is designed to mitigate these limitations while simultaneously preventing disputes and unauthorised claims over government and Council land.
Under the rules, eligible nautor holders can secure proprietary rights for up to 10 acres. The cost for these rights will be based on the market rate notified by the administration for the specific revenue village. For nautor holdings larger than 10 acres, proprietary rights may be granted on a leasehold basis, with the premium set at 80 per cent of the notified market rate.
For ‘Gair Mustaqil’ holdings, which refer to land where the occupant does not hold permanent proprietary status, mandatory field verification by revenue authorities will be conducted. This verification will ascertain the identity of the occupant, the area under occupation, the nature and extent of cultivation, the date of possession, and confirm that the occupation predates the established cut-off date.
In instances of ‘Mustaqil’ landholdings, the respective LAHDC will determine the necessity of field verification based on ground realities. The rules also clearly state that abandoned land or land found to have been encroached upon will not qualify for allotment and will be subject to eviction.
Nautor land that was mutated before the October 27, 2020, cut-off date, and where a change in land use has occurred, may be considered for regularisation. This is contingent upon formal approval of the land use change by the competent authority. Land regularised under these rules will be eligible for mortgage with scheduled banks, financial institutions, and government-backed lending agencies for land development purposes.
In municipal areas, planning zones, and areas covered by master or zonal plans, the land use must strictly adhere to applicable planning regulations. The rules also incorporate provisions for periodic review and audit of all allotments and regularisations. Any violation, misrepresentation, concealment of facts, non-utilisation, unauthorised transfer, or breach of conditions may result in the cancellation or resumption of the land.
The proposed rules will be made available in the public domain for a two-week consultation period before their final notification is issued.
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