Court upholds eviction of BSNL from leased premises of SKIMS

SKIMS has expressed its deep appreciation to Prof. (Dr.) Ghulam Hassan Yatoo for his resolute leadership as Estates Officer.

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JANUARY 17 (STC): In a significant development, the Court of the District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, has dismissed the appeal filed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and upheld the eviction order against BSNL directing it to vacate from leased premises of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
According to a statement issues by the SKIMS, the land in question-comprising 08 Kanals (Survey Nos. 326-min, 328-min, and 3179-min), was leased to BSNL Kashmir in September 1982 under Government Order No. 72-IMS of 1984 dated June 02, 1984, for a 40-year term that expired in September 2022. No extension or renewal was granted, as the land is critically required for SKIMS’s ongoing and planned infrastructure projects. Despite repeated requests, BSNL did not vacate the premises, leading to unauthorized occupation.
The Estates Officer, SKIMS, Prof. (Dr.) Ghulam Hassan Yatoo — Professor and HOD Hospital Administration, who has been designated as Estates Officer under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988 for premises owned and possessed by SKIMS by the J&K Government — issued an Eviction Notice followed by the Eviction Order on 29/02/2024 wherein BSNL was directed to
vacate from SKIMS land in its entirety.
BSNL appealed the Eviction order under Section 12 of the Act, and after detailed hearings and examination of records from both sides, the appellate court, vide its order dated 08/01/2026, dismissed the appeal. The interim stay granted on 14/03/2024, was also vacated, paving the way for immediate vacation of the premises by BSNL.
The SKIMS statement reads that this decision marks a major milestone, enabling the Institute — the premier tertiary care institution in the region — to utilize this strategically vital land for the expeditious development of essential facilities, including the long-awaited Cardiac Centre, Neurosciences facilities, Emergency Block, and other critical care projects that had been delayed due to the occupation.
SKIMS has expressed its deep appreciation to Prof. (Dr.) Ghulam Hassan Yatoo for his resolute leadership as Estates Officer in leading this effort to successful conclusion; to his team for their diligent pursuit; to the learned counsel for their outstanding legal advocacy; and to the District Administration, Srinagar for their prompt, fair, and judicious handling of this matter of vital public interest.
This achievement reaffirms SKIMS’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding public resources and prioritizing patient care and healthcare advancement across Jammu and Kashmir, the statement reads.
(Straight Talk Communications)