Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 1

The Jammu and Kashmir government has delegated powers to administrative departments to approve the demolition of public buildings, subject to a series of financial, technical and administrative safeguards aimed at streamlining decision-making while ensuring accountability in the disposal of government assets.

The Finance Department, through a notification issued by its Codes Division, said the Lieutenant Governor had authorised administrative departments to sanction the dismantling of public buildings, excluding purely temporary structures, after obtaining concurrence from their respective Director Finance, Financial Adviser (FA) or Chief Accounts Officer (CAO).

The delegation of powers has been made under Section 67 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

The notification lays down strict conditions governing the demolition of government-owned buildings, making it mandatory for departments to establish that a structure is either no longer required for public use or has outlived its utility before approval can be granted.

Authorities must first obtain certification from the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department confirming that the building is not required by any other government department and has ceased to serve any functional purpose.

The government has further stipulated that demolition can only be approved if the structure has been declared unsafe for occupation, is beyond economical repair, or if vacating the site is necessary for the construction of a more important public building or infrastructure project.

Such certification must be issued by the competent technical authority before any dismantling proposal is processed.

The move is intended to ensure that government properties are not demolished arbitrarily and that public assets continue to be utilised wherever feasible before being declared surplus.

To enhance transparency in the disposal process, the government has directed that all material recovered from dismantled public buildings must be disposed of through public auction conducted by the Public Works Department.

Officials said the auction mechanism is expected to improve accountability and ensure fair value realisation from salvaged government property.

The notification separately provides for purely temporary structures, granting administrative departments full authority to sanction their dismantling without requiring the additional approvals applicable to permanent buildings.

For the purpose of the policy, a purely temporary structure has been defined as one having an expected lifespan of not more than two years.

The revised framework is expected to simplify administrative procedures for departments seeking to replace obsolete government infrastructure while introducing uniform standards for technical evaluation, financial scrutiny and disposal of public assets.

Officials said the measures form part of broader efforts to strengthen financial discipline, improve asset management and ensure greater transparency in government decision-making relating to public infrastructure.