As per SC order, J&K govt. takes over iconic Nedou's Hotel in Gulmarg
'It was a smooth transition. They [the Nedou's family] cooperated well. The hotel structures and the huts have been sealed as per the court orders. The GDA has taken over everything, including the articles inside for now,' Tariq Hussain Naik, Chief Executive Officer, GDA, who oversaw the takeover, told The Hindu.
The GDA also made an inventory of the articles inside the structures, which include heritage furniture and artefacts.
Perched on a small hill in Gulmarg with snow-capped mountains in the backdrop, the iconic Nedou's Hotel was set up in 1888 by Michael Adam Nedou, a European who discovered Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. Afterwards, it became a popular holiday destination for Europeans and royalty. After 1947, the hotel became a favourite haunt for politicians like Congress leader Indira Gandhi and Bollywood stars like Dilip Kumar. Several movies and songs were shot in and around the iconic wooden structure.
At the time of eviction, officials said Omar K. Nedou, the great-grandson of Michael Nedou, and his wife Dilnawaz Nedou, who oversaw the Food and Beverage department, were present. Over 45 staff members also stood with the family members who worked for the hotel for several decades.
The District Magistrate, Baramulla, provided adequate security personnel 'to ensure the peaceful execution of the eviction process and maintenance of public order'.
The Nedous were in possession of nearly 98 kanals and 11 marlas of government land. The family had earned multiple leases from the government from 1888 till 1985. However, the family, which is related to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, failed to renew the lease after its expiration in 1985.
The Jammu and Kashmir government rejected the lease in February 2015. Later, the High Court too dismissed the hotel's plea for lease renewal and declared it as an unauthorised occupant under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988. The Supreme Court also issued eviction orders against the Nedous.
'Nobody is above law,' CEO Mr. Naik said.
It is highly unlikely the family can apply for the property again because under the amended Land Grants Act rules 2022, the previous occupant cannot apply for the lease again.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
16 minutes ago
- First Post
By the rivers of hypocrisy: Will Nato's Rutte follow Trump to become a sanctions puppet?
In trying to impress Trump, Rutte may reduce Nato to little more than a loudspeaker for Washington's selective outrage read more (File) US President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 14, 2025. Reuters In July, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte warned India, China and Brazil of potential '100% secondary sanctions' should they continue trading with Russia, particularly in oil and gas. Rutte — often seen as a close ally (almost a 'puppet') of US President Donald Trump — appeared not only out of touch with geopolitical realities but also displayed a degree of hypocrisy. Nato's present posture cannot be separated from its historical actions, a fact Rutte seemed willing to overlook. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Now, in his apparent quest to impress President Trump, the question remains: will Rutte mimic Trump by imposing similar sanctions on India for purchasing Russian crude? This moral high ground was notably absent in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. At that time, India's import of Russian crude was minimal — just 0.2 per cent of its total oil purchases — while European nations heavily depended on Russian energy to power their homes and industries. Why Europe didn't stop buying Russian oil after Crimea In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, the European Union responded with political and economic sanctions targeting individuals, banks and certain sectors of the Russian economy. However, energy exports were explicitly left out of the sanction's regime. This was a deliberate decision because European countries were heavily reliant on Russian fossil fuels, especially natural gas and oil, and feared that disrupting energy imports would lead to domestic shortages and price shocks. Consequently, energy trade between the EU and Russia continued largely uninterrupted. European dependence on Russian oil and gas even grew in some areas, with new pipelines like Nord Stream 2 under construction as late as 2021. It was only after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that the EU took meaningful action to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. In response to the 2022 war, the EU introduced sweeping sanctions on Russian oil, including a ban on seaborne crude imports, a price cap mechanism, and restrictions on refined petroleum products. This marked a significant turning point, forcing European countries to diversify their energy supplies by turning to the US, Norway, West Asian producers and increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. So, did Russia's unilateral announcement on September 30, 2022, regarding the annexation of territories in and around four Ukrainian oblasts — Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia — suddenly awaken the EU's long-dormant moral compass? Or was Crimea simply considered expendable? Where Europe's fuel comes from Europe's fuel mix is sourced from a combination of imported crude oil, domestic refining, alternative fuels and an emerging share of electricity for transport. The continent has a dense network of refineries that process crude oil into usable products like petrol, diesel and jet fuel. However, most of the crude oil processed in Europe is imported from abroad. Historically, Russia was the single largest external supplier of crude oil to the EU. Prior to 2022, Russia provided about 25–30 per cent of Europe's oil imports. Other major suppliers include Norway, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, Kazakhstan and Nigeria. Even after the 2014 Crimea crisis, Europe continued purchasing Russian oil in large volumes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition to conventional fuels, Europe also blends biofuels into its petrol and diesel streams, largely driven by EU renewable energy mandates. Biodiesel — produced from rapeseed, waste oils and palm oil — and bioethanol — produced from crops such as wheat and sugar beet — now comprise between 7 per cent and 10 per cent of the transport fuel mix in many EU countries. A small but growing proportion of vehicles, particularly in countries like Norway and the Netherlands, run on electricity. The electricity used in transport comes from diverse sources, including renewables (solar, wind, hydro), nuclear and fossil-fuel-based generation. However, EVs still make up a minority of the vehicle stock, meaning their impact on fuel consumption is still limited. A hollow fossil fuel moral compass Even the European Union's stand on the use of fossil fuels is nothing but hollow. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), the European Union had approximately 285 million road vehicles in use as of 2023. This includes around 249 million passenger cars, 30 million light commercial vehicles, six million trucks and nearly 700,000 buses. These figures reflect gradual annual increases in each category, along with a modest but growing share of electrified vehicles, especially among newly registered cars. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In contrast, India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, via its Vahan portal and associated transport data, estimates that India has around 265 to 270 million registered vehicles as of 2024–2025. Unlike Europe, however, India's fleet is heavily skewed toward two-wheelers, which constitute roughly 75 per cent of the total. India's fleet of four-wheeled passenger cars and commercial vehicles is still smaller than Europe's. In India, two-wheelers average around 6,000 kilometres per year with a fuel efficiency of roughly 45 kilometres per litre. Given the estimated 180 million two-wheelers, this segment alone consumes about 24 billion litres of petrol annually. Passenger cars, which number around 40 million and average 12,000 kilometres annually at 15 kilometres per litre, consume approximately 32 billion litres. Light commercial vehicles or vans, estimated at 10 million units, account for another 15 billion litres. India's five million trucks, which are mostly diesel-powered and average about 60,000 kilometres a year with fuel efficiency around 4 kilometres per litre, consume an estimated 75 billion litres. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Buses, numbering around one million, add roughly 14.3 billion litres of diesel to the national total. Altogether, India's annual fuel consumption across all road vehicles is approximately 160 to 165 billion litres. In Europe, the consumption profile is shaped more by four-wheeled vehicles. Passenger cars, numbering around 249 million and averaging 12,000 kilometres per year at 17 kilometres per litre, consume approximately 176 billion litres annually. Vans, at about 30 million units, travel around 18,000 kilometres a year at 12 kilometres per litre, consuming around 45 billion litres. Europe's six million trucks, with high usage and relatively low fuel efficiency, consume an estimated 90 billion litres annually. Buses, which number approximately 680,000, consume about 9.7 billion litres. Altogether, the total estimated annual fuel consumption in Europe is roughly 320 to 325 billion litres, nearly double that of India. Europe uses nearly twice as much fuel as India Despite India's nearly comparable number of registered vehicles, Europe's road transport system consumes about twice as much fuel annually. This disparity is driven by several key factors. First, Europe's vehicle mix consists primarily of four-wheeled vehicles such as passenger cars, vans and heavy-duty trucks, which consume more fuel per kilometre than India's predominantly two-wheeler fleet. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Second, vehicles in Europe tend to be driven longer distances on average, especially in the commercial and freight sectors. Third, Europe has a higher proportion of diesel-powered vehicles, including large trucks and vans that consume significant fuel over long-haul routes. Combined, these elements result in Europe's annual road transport fuel consumption reaching over 320 billion litres, compared to India's approximately 160 billion litres. Nato's double standards on energy and ethics Nato's current posturing, exemplified by Rutte's threats of secondary sanctions, reeks of selective morality and geopolitical opportunism. It is difficult to take seriously an alliance that remained silent when its own member states continued — and even expanded — energy trade with Russia after Crimea, only finding its 'values' after 2022 when it suited their interests. Singling out countries such as India, China and Brazil now, while having profited handsomely from the very fossil fuel ties they now condemn, exposes not principled leadership but hypocrisy. Until Nato holds itself and its members to the same standards it demands of others — past and present — its rhetoric will ring hollow, and its credibility as a global moral arbiter will remain deeply compromised. The question is: will Trump's tail — Nato under Rutte — wag its tail just as eagerly?
Economic Times
16 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Trump signs GENIUS Act: What does this mean for Crypto policy in India?
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The importance of the GENIUS Act Crypto TrackerPowered By TOP COINS TOP COIN SETS Solana 14,851.31 ( 3.24 %) Buy Ethereum 3,24,447 ( 1.82 %) Buy XRP 263.38 ( 1.8 %) Buy BNB 67,311 ( 0.93 %) Buy Bitcoin 1,00,61,253 ( 0.54 %) Buy Global impact of US crypto legislation Popular in Markets 1. How to Start a Crypto SIP: A Beginner-Friendly Guide What does this mean for India? What's next? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of .) US President Donald Trump has made significant moves to establish crypto as a mainstream financial product. One of the key steps in this direction is the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, which he signed into law this past bill was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate in July with overwhelming bipartisan support. The signing ceremony was attended by the CEOs of top American crypto companies, including Coinbase, Circle, Tether, and GENIUS Act officially recognises stablecoins as financial products and provides a legal and policy framework for them to operate with confidence. Currently, the stablecoin market is worth about $250 billion, with Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC) accounting for $165 billion and $65 billion, respectively. Stablecoins offer privacy to users and allow faster, cheaper cross-border major corporations and traditional financial institutions are reportedly exploring the launch of their own stablecoins. These include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Amazon, Walmart, Uber, Alibaba, Revolut, Mastercard, and Standard Chartered Bank. The Act mandates that each stablecoin issued must be backed 1:1 with liquid reserves such as cash or short-term two more crypto bills have passed the House and are now headed to the Senate — the CLARITY Act (Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025) and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. Together, these bills aim to establish the US as a global leader in digital finance and the crypto US developments have had a massive impact on the global cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin (BTC) has surged past $100,000 and is approaching $150,000, pushing the total crypto market valuation past $4 trillion for the first time. A growing number of countries are following suit, including Pakistan and Bhutan. Pakistan's Crypto Council CEO, Bilal Bin Saqib, revealed that the country is planning to establish a Bitcoin reserve. Meanwhile, Bhutan has disclosed BTC reserves worth $1.3 billion — nearly 40% of its remains a major player in the global crypto space. While it has been a hotspot for Web3 innovation, formalrecognition has been lacking, and the current regulatory landscape remains challenging — particularly due to a heavy taxation the global adoption of stablecoins by mainstream financial institutions and tech giants could signal the beginning of policy changes. According to a government statement in Parliament, India collected Rs 437 crore in taxes from VDA (Virtual Digital Asset)-related income in FY 2022-23. This indicates significant crypto activity despite unclear users can buy and hold digital assets in India, using them for everyday payments — even stablecoins from KYC-compliant platforms — is still prohibited. While VDAs are acknowledged, India remains in a regulatory grey area awaiting clear legal the world's largest recipient of remittances (with $130 billion in 2024), India stands to benefit greatly from the efficiency and low costs of stablecoin-enabled transfers. It seems inevitable that India will adopt legislation to enable the secure, compliant use of stablecoins and other GENIUS Act offers a potential blueprint: simple licensing procedures, full reserve mandates, and transparency through audits — a model that could benefit Indian investors and regulators alike by fostering trust and innovation June, reports indicated that the Indian government was preparing a crypto discussion paper to seek public input on regulation. While this is yet to materialise, it's not a major concern. A crypto regulation bill has been pending in Parliament since 2021. With updated inputs reflecting the changing landscape of 2025, there is hope the bill will soon be tabled. If passed, it could offer clarity and fuel growth in a sector that can significantly contribute to India's economic story.(The author, Devika Mittal is the Regional Head at Ava Labs): Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
Hans India
16 minutes ago
- Hans India
Saini meets PM; discusses growth, welfare schemes
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Nar-endra Modi in New Delhi. During the meeting, Haryana's current development works, welfare schemes and future projects were discussed in detail. The Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister of the state's progress, emphasizing that with the Central Government's policies and support, Haryana has been achieving remarkable milestones across various sectors. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Haryana is continu-ously moving forward as a 'double engine' government and the citizens of the state are getting ben-efits in areas like education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, industry and social welfare. He said that the State Government is working for the inclusive development of every section of the society guided by the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'. Ayushman: Payments to hospitals in process Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Sudhir Rajpal, held a detailed meeting with representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Haryana, to address their concerns regarding delayed pay-ments under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He assured them that the state government is actively releasing payments to empanelled hospitals and remains fully committed to resolving all outstanding issues. Dr. D.S. Jaspal, former National Vice-President of the IMA Headquarters and former President of the IMA Haryana State Chapter, said he was not at all in support of the call for a strike. He said, 'The government has already initiated the release of pending payments and has assured us that all our concerns will be addressed in a time-bound manner.' Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, A. Sreenivas said that the Election Commission of India has published the draft electoral roll for Bihar on August 1, 2025, with the aim of ensuring accuracy in the voter list. Rules for contractual employees The Haryana Government has notified the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Rules, 2025. These rules have been notified under sub-section (1) of Section 10 of the Haryana Con-tractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024 (17 of 2024).
