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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
High court issues notice to Punjab on plea against land pooling policy
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday issued notice to the Punjab govt on a petition challenging the Land Pooling Policy-2025. Gurdeep Singh Gill, 72, a resident of Phagla village in Ludhiana district, has sought directions to quash the notification dated June 4, 2025, along with the Land Pooling Policy 2025, being ultra vires and an act of "colourable legislation", violating fundamental rights. Gill, who claimed to have turned unproductive land capable of producing multi-crops with a fully developed irrigation system, said the policy includes his land without following the mandatory procedure under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR Act) 2013. "There are also no enabling provisions under LARR 2013 to frame or implement such a land pooling policy. Instead, the competent statutory framework for such urban development and land pooling in Punjab is the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act 1995, which has been arbitrarily bypassed," the petition said, adding no social impact assessment report was either prepared or published according to provisions of law. Moreover, according to the petition, none of the gram panchayats or gram sabhas were approached or consulted by the state before bringing the policy. A division bench comprising Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda issued the notice after taking cognisance of the petition. MSID:: 122998882 413 |
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Land pooling policy challenged in HC, plea flags statutory safeguards
The Punjab government's land pooling policy, aimed at acquiring nearly 65,000 acres across the state for residential and industrial development, has been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana high court. A petition by social activists Naveender PK Singh and Samita Kaur was taken up by the bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) A petition by social activists Naveender PK Singh and Samita Kaur was taken up by the bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry. However, the hearing was deferred as petitioners sought permission to amend the plea. The PIL seeks quashing of the recent notification of the state government issued on July 4 and subsequent changes made, whereby land pooling policy has been notified for acquisition and urbanization of multi-crop irrigated agricultural lands in over 50 villages (24,311 acres of area) in Ludhiana and 21,550 acres separately proposed to be taken for industrial purposes in Ludhiana and Mohali. It argues that the policy fails to comply with statutory safeguards, including social and environmental impact assessments, fair compensation and rehabilitation of affected families. The move to acquire such a large chunk of land would have widespread negative effects on the agrarian economy of Punjab, which is a major contributor to the food grain supply of the country, the petition argues, adding that the policy is directly contrary to the spirit and mandate of the right to fair compensation and transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act), which is a central legislation. During the hearing, the state's counsel told the court that the policy was notified under the 2025 policy and not under the LARR Act 2013. Upon this, counsel for the petitioner sought to amend the petition and the matter was adjourned for August 19. 'The policy is being used as an indirect and illegal method of land acquisition that sidesteps the mandatory procedures laid down under the LARR Act, particularly Sections 4, 8, and 10, which mandate social and environmental impact assessments and bar acquisition of fertile agricultural land except in exceptional circumstances,' the plea claims, further alleging that the state government, through agencies like the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), is pressing ahead with the project despite massive opposition. 'More than 1,600 landowners and farmers have already submitted affidavits before GLADA opposing the move. Media reports have extensively covered the protests and highlighted discrepancies between the state's claims and the situation on the ground,' the plea further said, demanding the court's intervention. The plea says in the absence of a comprehensive social impact assessment (SIA) and the formulation of a corresponding SIA plan, the policy is not only 'procedurally defective' but is also arbitrary and violative of the fundamental rights of the affected landowners and farming communities.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Punjab land pooling policy challenged in HC over acquisition of agricultural land
Chandigarh: Punjab govt's much publicised land pooling policy, under which the state plans to acquire thousands of acres of land for developing residential and industrial zones, has been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana high court. Petitioners have submitted to the HC that the move to acquire such vast tracts of farmland would have widespread negative effects on the state's agrarian economy, a major contributor to the nation's food grain supply. During the hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the court was informed that the policy was contrary to the spirit and mandate of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act), which is a central legislation. It was also submitted that the land pooling policy was being used as a tool to acquire fertile agricultural land across Punjab while circumventing the mandatory procedures laid down under the LARR Act 2013, such as conducting a social impact assessment (Section 4) and environmental impact assessment (EIA). The LARR Act 2013 (Section 10) categorically bars the acquisition of fertile agricultural land in the ordinary course and only as a last resort. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo The case was heard for around half hour by the division bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu. Responding to the plea, the counsel for the Punjab govt contended that the policy was notified under the 2025 policy, not under the LARR Act 2013, as argued by the petitioner. On this, the chief justice's bench advised the counsel for the petitioner to amend the petition accordingly to challenge the acquisition of land as per the 2025 policy. The matter was adjourned to Aug 19 for further hearing. "Now we will amend the petition challenging the land pooling policy. Although we tried to convince the court that there is not much difference, we will amend our petition accordingly on the advice of the bench. The matter has now been fixed for Aug 19," counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Sahir Singh Virk, told TOI. The matter reached the court in the wake of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Naveender P K Singh of Mohali and Samita Kaur of Ludhiana. The petitioners mainly prayed for quashing the impugned notifications dated July 4 and to restrain the state of Punjab from proceeding with the policy without adhering to the due process of law under the LARR Act, especially when such fertile agricultural land is at stake. The court was informed that the Punjab department of housing and urban development notified the policy for the acquisition and urbanisation of multi-crop irrigated agricultural lands in over 50 villages (24,311 acres of area) in Ludhiana and 21,550 acres separately proposed to be taken for industrial purposes in Ludhiana and Mohali, in violation of the statutory provisions (sections 4, 8 & 10) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in LARR Act 2013. It was submitted that the policy does not provide any transparency, protection, or legal remedy to the affected landowners and farmers, and is therefore unjust, arbitrary, unconstitutional, and illegal. Claiming themselves to be socially conscious individuals acting solely in public interest, the petitioners submitted that widespread protests have taken place against this policy. "More than 1,600 landowners and farmers have filed affidavits with GLADA (Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority) opposing the acquisition of their fertile land," the HC was informed.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Punjab's land pooling policy challenged in High Court as activists flag environmental concern
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government's controversial land pooling policy, aimed at acquiring nearly 65,000 acres across the state for residential and industrial development, has come under legal scrutiny, with a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging it in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A PIL was filed stating that this policy fails to comply with statutory safeguards, including social and environmental impact assessments, fair compensation, and rehabilitation of affected families. The petition comes at a time when farmers and opposition parties are protesting against the implementation of this policy. Social activists Naveender PK Singh and Samita Kaur are the petitioners in this case and have submitted to the High Court that the move to acquire such a large chunk of land would have widespread negative effects on the agrarian economy of Punjab, which is a major contributor to the food grain supply of the country. This petition has been moved by advocates Sahir Singh Virk and V.B. Godara. During the hearing, the High Court was informed that the said policy is directly contrary to the spirit and mandate of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act), which is a central legislation. The case was heard by the division bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab govt's move to acquire land under land pooling policy under HC lens
Representative Image CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government's land pooling policy, under which the state planned to acquire thousands of acres of land from across the state for developing residential and industrial zones, was challenged before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The petitioners in this case submitted to the HC that the move to acquire such a large chunk of land would have widespread negative effects on the agrarian economy of Punjab, which is a major contributor to the nation's food grain supply. During the hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the HC was informed that the said policy is directly contrary to the spirit and mandate of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act), which is a central legislation. It was also submitted that the land pooling policy is being used as a tool to acquire fertile agricultural land across the state of Punjab while circumventing the mandatory procedures laid down under the LARR Act 2013, such as conducting a Social Impact Assessment (Section 4) and Environmental Impact Assessment. The LARR Act 2013 (Section 10) categorically bars the acquisition of fertile agricultural land in the ordinary course and only as a last resort. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like My Brows Look Fuller Looking Now [See Results] NULASTIN Learn More Undo The case was heard for around half and hour by the division bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu. Responding to the plea, the counsel for the Punjab govt contended that the land pooling policy was notified under the 2025 policy, not under the LARR Act 2013, as argued by the petitioner. On this, the Chief Justice's bench advised the counsel for the petitioner to amend the petition accordingly to challenge the acquisition of land as per the 2025 policy. The matter was adjourned for August 19 for further hearing. 'Now we will amend the petition challenging the land pooling policy 2025. Although we tried to convince the court that there is not much difference, on the advice of the bench, we will amend our petition accordingly. The matter has now been fixed for August 19 for further hearing,' counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Sahir Singh Virk, told TOI. The matter reached the HC in the wake of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Naveender P K Singh of Mohali and Samita Kaur of Ludhiana. The petitioners have mainly prayed for quashing the impugned notifications dated July 4 and to restrain the state of Punjab from proceeding with the land pooling policy without adhering to the due process of law under the LARR Act, especially when such fertile agricultural land is at stake.
