JAMMU, SEPT 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Wednesday approved a series of major legislative, regulatory and administrative measures, including the J&K Jan Vishwas Third Amendment of Provisions Bill, 2026, the J&K Water Resources and Management Regulation Bill, 2026, and the J&K Residential Land Lease Rules, 2026, while also clearing the promotion of 36 JKAS officers across three grades.
The decisions were taken at the 12th meeting of the Council of Ministers in Srinagar amid the ongoing autumn session of the J&K Legislature.
A major reform proposed under the Jan Vishwas Bill is the decriminalisation of 21 additional minor offences, with certain violations currently attracting imprisonment or criminal prosecution proposed to be dealt with through monetary penalties imposed by designated Adjudicating Officers, along with an appellate mechanism before a senior authority.
The move is aimed at reducing litigation over minor regulatory violations and easing compliance for small traders, shopkeepers, rehriwalas and other sections.
The Cabinet also approved the J&K Water Resources and Management Regulation Bill, 2026, proposing amendments to the J&K Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010.
The proposed law seeks to create a framework for granting proprietary rights over certain khuds where there has been no actual flow of water for the prescribed period, subject to conditions and safeguards under the legislation.
The Bill is expected to be placed before the Legislature during the ongoing autumn session after completion of the requisite constitutional process and approval of the Lieutenant Governor.
Another key decision was approval of the J&K Residential Land Lease Rules, 2026, extending the land-lease regulatory framework to residential properties.
The earlier rules notified in 2022 were primarily focused on commercial properties, while the new framework seeks to regulate residential land leases and will take effect after completion of the applicable approval and notification process.
The Cabinet further approved the promotion of 36 JKAS officers across three scales, including 11 officers to the Special Time Scale, 12 officers to another Special Time Scale category and 13 officers to the Selection Grade, as part of ongoing administrative and career-progression measures.
The decisions come against the backdrop of a broader legislative reform exercise, with proposed measures relating to GST, municipal governance and Ease of Doing Business also being taken up during the session. The GST proposals seek alignment between the Central GST framework and the J&K GST regime, while municipal amendments concern the composition of municipal bodies and powers linked to the electoral process.
Ease of Doing Business reforms propose simplification of regulatory procedures through reduced NOCs, greater use of self-certification and removal of duplication in licences and approvals.
The newly cleared Jan Vishwas and Water Resources and Management Bills are expected to come before the Legislature during the autumn session, subject to the required approvals.
According to the reported Cabinet decisions, September 29 and 30 have been earmarked in the Assembly calendar for Government business.
