Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has allowed hotels facing eviction from Gulmarg properties to withdraw their petition on expiry of their lease after the UT government assured the court that it is ready for a fair and viable resolution of the issue.Additional Advocate General Mohsin Qadri informed the court that if the petitioners file representations within two weeks, the competent authority will hear them before taking a decision and inform the same to each petitioner.Advocate ZA Shah, appearing for the petitioners, first approached the government seeking permission to withdraw the petition.In 2022, the LG administration introduced J&K land grant rules under the J&K Reorganization Act 2019, which prohibits extension of lease after expiry and allows any Indian citizen to auction properties under open bidding.Before the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, land leases were limited to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Under the new rules, the leases of 55 out of 59 hotels in Gulmarg have expired, prompting hoteliers facing eviction to move the HC.Qadri told TOI that the petitioners are no longer seeking a decision before the HC, but have limited their relief to the government considering their representation.While the case was still being heard in the court, the UT administration took possession of the historic Nedous Hotel on August 3 last year, the first property to be sealed after the Gulmarg Development Authority issued a 24-hour eviction notice, although the lease had expired in 1985.Interestingly, National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said that the party will introduce the Land Grant Bill in the Assembly next week to undo the 2022 Jammu and Kashmir land grant rules.