No jobs, no rehab policy for SKUAST-Jammu land losers: Govt

By Umer Raina
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05 Apr 2026

Jammu, Apr 4: The government on Saturday clarified key aspects surrounding the land acquisition for the establishment of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu at Chatha, following a query raised in the Assembly by MLA Dr. Narinder Singh Raina.

Responding to the starred question, the government outlined the background of the project, stating that the university was set up in 1999, while the land required for its campus was acquired in 2001 through the Revenue Department for institutional purposes.

The reply stated that a total of 3594 kanals and 09 marlas of land was acquired from three villages—Rakh Chatha (628 kanals 04 marlas), Shahzapur Gurjran (1283 kanals 09 marlas), and Chatha (1682 kanals 15 marlas)—for the establishment of the university campus.

The government informed that the total cost of acquisition amounted to Rs 21.64 crore, benefiting 274 landowners. Of this, Rs 10.37 crore was paid for private land, Rs 3.99 crore for state land, and Rs 7.28 crore for custodian land. The acquired land included 2553 kanals 16 marlas of private land, 248 kanals of Dharmarth Trust land, 53 kanals of state land, and 739 kanals 13 marlas of custodian land. However, the university is presently in possession of 2291 kanals and 05 marlas only.

Addressing concerns about livelihood loss, the government clarified that SKUAST, Jammu had no direct role in the identification of landowners, acquisition proceedings, or compensation disbursement, which were handled entirely by Revenue Department and Collector Land Acquisition, Jammu.

The reply further denied claims that displaced landowners were engaged as casual or temporary workers in the university. It stated that no such landowners were employed by the institution in any capacity, and that manpower requirements are currently met through an outsourcing mechanism.

On the issue of rehabilitation and livelihood support, the government reiterated that compensation had already been disbursed by the concerned authorities, while no specific employment or regularisation policy for affected families has been implemented by the university so far.