For first time, Jammu Kashmir admin to introduce building laws for rural areas

June 11, 2025 by News Desk

Jammu Kashmir admin is set to introduce building bylaws for rural areas under Halqa Panchayats through the ‘J&K Building Permission (Rural Areas) Procedure, 2025’.

Officials claim that the framework, currently being finalised, will regulate all rural construction, including new buildings, extensions, and alterations, by requiring mandatory approvals.

The new rules will not apply to urban, municipal, or tourism authority zones.

At a high-level meeting chaired by Mohammad Aijaz Asad, Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, officials said the framework derives its authority from Section 12 (2)(iv) of the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 and Rules 155 and 156 of 1996, which empower Halqa Panchayats to regulate construction.

Describing the move as “transformational,” Asad said it brings long-overdue legal clarity and accountability to rural development. Applications will be processed within 30 days, and an Online Building Permit System (OBPS) will be launched for transparency.

In cases not covered by the rural bylaws, officials are to refer to national guidelines, including the J&K Unified Building Bye Laws 2021, MoHUA’s Model Bye Laws, and the Energy Conservation Building Code.

A monitoring mechanism and digital database will track all permissions, ensuring compliance and citizen convenience.

“Introducing building permissions in rural areas without public consultation is deeply worrying,” said Irshad Hussain, a local activist. “For decades, rural communities have built homes based on need, terrain, and tradition—not paperwork. Imposing a centralized model risks ignoring these lived realities.”

“Instead of empowering panchayats, this might end up creating hurdles for poor villagers,” he added. “Without safeguards, such laws could open the door to corruption, delays, and harassment—exactly what rural people can’t afford.”