Gulmarg:03:08:25: ANB: In a landmark administrative move rooted in long-pending court directives, the Jammu & Kashmir Government has formally directed the immediate eviction of Hotel Nedou’s, one of Gulmarg’s most iconic and historic properties. The Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) has been asked to assume full control of the property within 24 hours.
According to official communication issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the GDA, Tariq Hussain (JKAS), the action follows the dismissal of Special Leave Petition No. 28599/2018 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and the binding orders passed by the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir in OWP No. 847/2015 on 6th September 2018.
The letter, addressed to the Assistant Director Tourism, Gulmarg-Baramulla, cites a series of judicial and departmental orders, including letter no. TSM/Legal/15/2018 from the Department of Tourism dated December 11, 2018. It emphasizes that the Hotel Nedou’s property is under “unauthorized occupation” and that possession must be taken “immediately” and handed over to the GDA. According to the News Service Associated News Bureau ANB,The directive gains further authority under S.O. 18 of 2025, notified by the Tourism Department vide notification number TSM-Estt/21/2023 dated January 14, 2025. The order vests the powers of the Estate Officer under the Jammu & Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988, with the Assistant Director Tourism, Gulmarg. The jurisdiction includes all tourism properties in Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora districts.
“In compliance with the above court orders and the authority conferred under S.O. 18, you are hereby requested to evict the unauthorised occupant and take over the physical possession of public premises, i.e., Hotel Nedou’s, Gulmarg, within 24 hours,” the letter reads.
Hotel Nedou’s, a colonial-era heritage establishment in the heart of Gulmarg, has been a cornerstone of Kashmir’s tourism legacy. The property has long been at the center of a legal dispute over land rights, public access, and government control. With this eviction order, the government is set to reclaim the land for public and developmental use under the purview of the GDA.
Sources in the Tourism Department suggest that the move is part of a broader campaign to restore state control over illegally or unauthorisedly occupied tourism properties, especially in high-value locations like Gulmarg.
Local stakeholders, tourism operators, and heritage advocates are closely watching the development, which could have far-reaching implications for the region's tourism and property regulation framework.
No official response from the current occupants of Hotel Nedou’s was available at the time of filing this report. However, officials confirmed that ground-level enforcement is expected within the stipulated 24-hour timeframe. ANB
