NHRC Demands Action Report on Deteriorating Conditions in Jagti Kashmiri Pandit Township

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Jammu & Kashmir administration to submit a comprehensive, issue-specific report addressing serious allegations of decaying infrastructure and unsafe living conditions at Jagti Township, the rehabilitation colony for displaced Kashmiri Pandit families near Jammu. The directive, issued on January 21, follows a detailed complaint by resident advocate Vishva Ranjan Pandita, who submitted over 100 photographs documenting the extent of deterioration in the settlement.

Jagti Township, home to many families displaced from the Kashmir Valley since 1990 due to targeted violence and terrorism, was intended as a permanent rehabilitation solution. However, residents now describe years of administrative neglect that has turned the colony into a site of ongoing hardship. The complaint highlights flats in “complete disrepair,” with structural safety concerns raised repeatedly for over five years without meaningful repairs. Authorities have cited the absence of a dedicated renovation budget as the primary obstacle.

Beyond residential buildings, the complaint focuses on the severely degraded Nagrota-Jagti road, which remains pothole-ridden despite numerous representations for resurfacing. Pandita alleges that this forces families to take longer, riskier routes for essential travel, contributing to several fatal accidents in the past year. Additional grievances include stagnant relief assistance amid rising costs, inadequate community facilities such as halls and parks, and prolonged annual water shortages that compel reliance on expensive private tankers.

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The NHRC, acting under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, had previously sought an Action Taken Report but found earlier responses inadequate. After reviewing Pandita’s rejoinder and supporting evidence, the commission has now insisted on a fresh, complete account that directly addresses each concern. The administration has been given until February 28 to comply, with all future correspondence required through the official HRCNet portal, indicating sustained oversight.

For the Kashmiri Pandit community, which marks 36 years of exile this year, the case underscores a painful paradox: survivors of terror-induced displacement continue to struggle for basic dignity and security within their own country. The outcome of the NHRC proceedings will determine whether Jagti residents finally receive tangible improvements or face further prolonged uncertainty.

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