Opp, farm bodies hail HC order; for AAP govt a major setback, but not unexpected

Indian Express

5 days ago

The Punjab and Haryana High Court's Thursday order putting an interim stay on the operation of the land pooling policy may have come as setback for the Aam Aadmi Party government, but officials in the power corridors said they were not surprised. The opposition parties and the farmer bodies hailed the order, but added that they will intensify their respective agitations to ensure that the policy was repealed.
The Punjab cabinet in June had approved Land Pooling Policy, 2025, asserting that not a single yard will be forcibly acquired from land owners. Under the policy, the government has promised to develop the land being pledged by the owners and give them 1,000 square yards of residential plot and a 200 square yards of commercial plot in lieu of one acre.
The high court order came on a plea by a Ludhiana based farmer who contended that the policy was purported to be under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, but there was no such provision empowering the state to frame such a policy as the provisions of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, was the only Act under which such a policy could be framed. 'No such social impact assessment report was either prepared or published, as per the provisions of law.
Moreover, none of the gram panchayats or gram sabhas were approached or consulted by the respondents before bringing the land pooling policy, which is a clear disregard to the provisions mandated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013,' the petition said.
A senior government official, on conditions of anonymity, said, 'The court has not come as a surprise. There was a feeling that the policy was formulated in haste. We should have got the social impact assessment and environment impact assessment done. This was questioned by the high court too'.
Another official said the order was setback for the government both politically and financially. The government was hoping to generate funds, considering that it was planning to pay Rs 1,000 per month to women before next Assembly elections in 2027. It was a promise the AAP had made ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls. The non-fulfilment of the promise had become an issue in 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Punjab Congress welcomed the HC order as 'a victory of the farmers'. State party chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring hoped that better sense prevails among the powers that be and they see the reason in withdrawing the policy. 'We are resolved to force the government to withdraw this policy using all legal, legitimate and democratic means,' he said, adding the policy is a ploy of the AAP government to rob the farmers of their land. 'Otherwise, which government takes away farmers' land without their consent and without any compensation,' he asked.
Jalandhar MLA Pargat Singh termed the HC order as a resounding answer to the wrong policies of the AAP government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
'This is not just a legal order, it is a people's verdict against the arbitrary and exploitative policies of the AAP government,' said Pargat Singh. 'Though the court has granted an interim stay, this is only the beginning.' he added.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the policy was an assault on farmers and a violation of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. 'No consent, no compensation—just land loot for Delhi cronies. CM Mann has been exposed. He must resign and go back to his village. Punjab needs protectors, not puppets,' he said in a post on X.
While there was no reactions from the top AAP leadership, party spokesperson Neel Garg said that they were waiting for the detailed order. 'We respect the court orders. We will examine it and then take a call. However, I just want to say that this is the best policy formulated for the farmers as well as buyers of the land. It intends to keep the land mafia away. Also, it is a voluntary scheme.
On whether the government will now get the social impact and environment impact assessments done, he said, 'The orders are awaited'.
Punjab Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian was not available for comments. His staff answered his phone and said that he was busy in discussions with MLAs.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal had done an 'underhand deal' with Delhi builders to 'hand over' farmers' land to them. 'The AAP government and Kejriwal want to raise money for the party by looting Punjab. Land grabbing is the biggest attack against farmers. The AAP leaders have done a deal of Rs 30,000 crore to give farmers' land to builders,' he alleged, and demanded that the state government immediately withdraw the scheme.
He said SAD will begin a protest against the AAP government from September 1 in Mohali and it will continue until this scheme is rolled back. Party workers from each constituency in Punjab will subsequently participate in a continuous 'dharna' till the AAP government revokes the land pooling scheme. A three-member coordinating committee comprising Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, N K Sharma and Mohali district president Parminder Singh Sohana has also been formed for this purpose.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders too hailed HC order. Prem Singh Bhangu, president, All India Kisan Federation — an SKM constituent — said, 'In the name of building township and providing affordable houses to the people, the government intended to acquire 65,533 acres of fertile land without giving any compensation'.Jagmohan Singh Patiala, general secretary of BKU Dakaunda and a SKM leader said the government notification was silent about the rehabilitation of workers, artisans, shopkeepers and MGNERGA workers who will be uprooted from the villages along with the land owners.
Bhangu said the pressure mounted by the farmers and also the political parties will force the government to scrap the policy.