The Jammu and Kashmir Government has revealed that a total of 3,594 kanals of land were acquired at a cost of Rs 21.64 crore for the establishment of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, a process that impacted 274 landowners. The government also clarified that the university itself does not play a direct role in compensation disbursement or in providing mandatory employment to families affected by land acquisition.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that these details were presented in response to a Starred Assembly Question submitted by MLA Narinder Singh Raina. The official response detailed that the land for SKUAST-Jammu, situated at Chatha, was procured in 2001 across several villages, including Rakh Chatha, Gurjran, and Shahzadpur. The total area acquired was measured at 3,594 kanals and 9 marlas.
The government stated that the total compensation of Rs 21.64 crore was distributed among various categories. This included Rs 10.37 crore for private land, Rs 3.99 crore for state land, and Rs 7.28 crore for custodian land. The entire acquisition procedure, from identifying beneficiaries to disbursing compensation, was managed by the Revenue Department, operating through the Collector Land Acquisition.
Of the total land acquired, 739 kanals and 13 marlas were categorized as custodian land, with the remainder consisting of private and state land holdings. In a significant disclosure, the government further indicated that SKUAST-Jammu currently possesses only 291 kanals and 5 marlas, a considerably smaller portion than the total land initially acquired for the university’s campus development.
Addressing concerns raised about families losing their land and means of livelihood due to the acquisition, the government acknowledged the adverse impact on these families. However, it reiterated that SKUAST-Jammu was not directly involved in the land acquisition or compensation processes. These crucial aspects were handled exclusively by the Revenue Department, ensuring that the university focused on its academic and research mandates.
Regarding the issue of employment for those affected, the government stated that while some local individuals might have been engaged by the university through outsourcing or on a need-based employment model, there is no formal policy that mandates linking land acquisition to employment or the regularization of such workers. This contrasts with reported regularisations of similar workers at SKUAST-Kashmir.
The official reply stated that the university procures manpower through outsourcing mechanisms based on its requirements. It explicitly mentioned that there is no provision for direct employment or regularization that is tied to land acquisition processes. The government did not detail any specific rehabilitation or livelihood support policies exclusively designed for the displaced families. Instead, it reiterated that compensation was disbursed strictly in accordance with the legal provisions that were in effect at the time of the land acquisition.
SKUAST-Jammu, which was established in 1999, stands as a prominent agricultural institution within the region. This recent disclosure is expected to reignite discussions surrounding land acquisition practices, the adequacy of compensation provided, and the necessity for robust long-term livelihood support mechanisms for families displaced by such development projects.











