J&K Authorities Seize Iconic Nedou’s Hotel in Gulmarg, Ending Century-Long Saga of Elite Retreat.
The Public Tv Gulmarg, August 4, 2025 – In a dramatic turn of events, the Jammu & Kashmir government has reclaimed the legendary Nedou’s Hotel in Gulmarg, a 137-year-old landmark that once welcomed royals, Bollywood stars, and global elites. The Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) executed a swift takeover on Monday, August 4, following a high-stakes 24-hour eviction notice, bringing an end to a decades-long land dispute that has gripped the region.
The operation, conducted under the Jammu & Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988, was a direct response to rulings from the Supreme Court of India and the J&K High Court, which declared the hotel’s occupation of nearly 98 kanals and 11 marlas of prime government land illegal after its lease expired in 1985.
A Historic Seizure
The Assistant Director of Tourism, acting as the designated Estate Officer, led the eviction with a local magistrate and police ensuring a seamless transfer of the sprawling property to the GDA. The move marks a stunning victory for the rule of law, as the Nedou family’s grip on the iconic hotel—once a symbol of colonial grandeur and Kashmiri hospitality—was finally broken.
The GDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Tariq Hussain (JKAS), issued the eviction order on August 2, citing “glaring irregularities” in the hotel’s unauthorized occupation. “It has been found necessary to take possession of the said property in light of legal directions and examination of records,” the order stated, referencing the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Special Leave Petition No. 28599/2018 and the J&K High Court’s 2018 ruling in OWP No. 847/2015.
A Legacy Tainted by Controversy
Founded in the 1880s by Michael Adam Nedou, a European entrepreneur, Nedou’s Hotel was a glittering retreat for colonial officers, dignitaries, and later, Bollywood filmmakers. The property’s storied past includes ties to Kashmir’s political elite, with Harry Nedou’s daughter, Akbar Jahan, marrying Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference and a towering figure in J&K politics.
Despite its prestige, the hotel’s legal standing unraveled after its lease—originally granted for just 2 kanals and 13 marlas in 1963—lapsed in 1985. The Nedou family’s continued occupation of an additional 91 kanals, without rent payments since 1990, sparked outrage among locals and activists who accused authorities of turning a blind eye to the encroachment for decades.
A David vs. Goliath Battle
The eviction follows years of legal battles, with the Nedou family’s pleas for lease renewal rejected by the J&K government in 2015 and dismissed by the courts. The High Court’s scathing 2018 judgment exposed the hotel’s “brazen defiance” of judicial directives, noting its commercial exploitation of public land without legal authority. The Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling sealed the hotel’s fate, paving the way for Monday’s dramatic takeover.
The operation has sent shockwaves through Gulmarg, with locals hailing it as a triumph over privilege and selective justice. “This is a slap in the face of those who thought they could flout the law forever,” said a local activist, speaking anonymously to KNS. “The government has finally shown it can act against the powerful.”
What’s Next for Nedou’s?
As the dust settles, speculation swirls about the future of this historic site. Will the reclaimed land become a public asset, a preserved heritage landmark, or be auctioned off in a controversial commercial deal? Critics warn that the government’s next steps will be closely watched, with fears that the property could be handed to corporate giants, fueling concerns about J&K’s land policies post-Article 370.
For now, the seizure of Nedou’s Hotel stands as a bold statement: no one is above the law, not even a century-old icon. As Gulmarg’s snow-clad slopes bear witness to this historic reckoning, the region braces for what promises to be a new chapter in its storied legacy.
Stay tuned for updates as this saga unfolds.