J&K Assembly takes up Ease of Doing Business Bill with time-bound approvals, inspection safeguards
Srinagar, Sep 28 KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday took up the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026, proposing a new regulatory framework aimed at reducing procedural delays and making government approvals for enterprises more time-bound and predictable.
The Bill, introduced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his capacity as Minister in charge of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, proposes a shift from routine permission-based regulation towards a rule-based framework.
Under the proposed mechanism, new enterprises in approved industrial parks could receive in-principle approval within three working days after submission of the prescribed declaration of intent.
For enterprises outside approved industrial parks, the proposed decision-making period is 30 working days, while applications relating to existing enterprises would have a prescribed period of up to 45 working days.
The Bill also provides for deemed approval in specified circumstances where the competent authority fails to take a decision within the prescribed timeframe.
A central feature of the proposed legislation is the principle of “Permission by Exception”, under which an enterprise would generally be permitted to undertake an activity unless it is specifically prohibited by law.
The proposed framework also provides for a single-window system and a “One State Principle”, under which applicants would not ordinarily be required to repeatedly submit information or documents already available with another government authority.
The Bill proposes a three-year moratorium on inspections and coercive action relating to approvals of registered enterprises, subject to specified exceptions.
Inspections could still be undertaken in cases involving serious complaints or specified violations, including submission of false information, unauthorised construction and non-compliance with minimum fire-safety requirements.
The proposed legislation also envisages a Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Council and district-level empowered committees to oversee implementation and disposal of applications.
For industrial areas, the framework proposes greater flexibility in certain development parameters, including floor area ratio, setbacks, ground coverage and building height, subject to applicable conditions.
The Bill further provides for industrial leases of up to 99 years and contains provisions concerning reassignment and subleasing of industrial plots.
Another proposed provision allows the competent authority to require enterprises employing more than ten persons to reserve a specified percentage of vacancies for J&K domicile candidates, with provision for exemption where suitably skilled or qualified local candidates are unavailable.
The proposed regulatory relaxations do not remove statutory environmental requirements. Laws relating to environmental protection, forests, wildlife and pollution control would continue to apply, including mandatory environmental clearances wherever required.
The Bill is part of the government’s legislative effort to reduce regulatory delays, simplify approvals and facilitate investment and employment in Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]
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