Latest news with #PunjabRegionalandTownPlanningandDevelopmentAct
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Opp, farm bodies hail HC order; for AAP govt a major setback, but not unexpected
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bodies hailed the order, but added that they will intensify their respective agitations to ensure that the policy was repealed.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.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
High Court pauses Punjab's land-pooling policy in big jolt to AAP
In a major setback for the Aam Admi Party (AAP), the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday ordered an interim stay on the operation of the Punjab government's Land Pooling Policy stay came in response to a petition filed by Gurdeep Singh Gill, a Ludhiana-based resident, who challenged the legality and constitutionality of the policy. The petitioner alleged that the policy was enacted without the mandatory social and environmental impact assessments, and bypassed consultation with Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas, in violation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, the hearing, petitioner's counsel Gurjeet Singh confirmed that the High Court has directed the Punjab government to file a reply within four weeks. The court had earlier questioned whether the policy included provisions for the rehabilitation of landless labourers, and whether a social impact assessment was conducted prior to petition called for the quashing of the state's notification dated June 24, along with the entire policy, terming it an act of 'colourable legislation' that infringes on fundamental rights. The plea further argued that the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995 is the only valid framework under which such a policy could be petition pointed out that there exists no legal mechanism to challenge the policy under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, leaving affected individuals with no avenue for AKALI DAL PROTESTS AGAINST LAND-POOLING POLICYThe policy has drawn strong opposition from political parties and farmer groups. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal denounced the land-pooling policy as a 'land-grabbing scheme' and accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of attempting to 'loot' farmers of their fertile claimed that AAP had struck an 'underhand deal' with builders from Delhi worth Rs 30,000 crore, alleging that the policy was aimed at transferring agricultural land to private developers. Announcing a protest campaign, Badal declared that the SAD would launch an agitation from September 1 in Mohali, continuing until the policy is the criticism, the AAP government has defended the policy as farmer-friendly, asserting that no land will be forcibly acquired. According to the policy, landowners will receive 1,000 square yards of residential land and 200 square yards of commercial land in developed zones in exchange for each acre pooled.- EndsWith inputs from PTI
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC grants interim stay on Punjab's land-pooling policy
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday ordered an interim stay on the operation of Punjab's land-pooling policy. The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday ordered an interim stay on the operation of Punjab's land-pooling policy. The direction came on a petition filed by Gurdeep Singh Gill, challenging the Punjab government's land-pooling policy, 2025. After the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Gurjeet Singh, said the court had granted an interim stay on the policy. 'A four-week time has been given for filing the reply,' he told reporters. The counsel said neither was any social impact assessment nor any environment-related assessment carried out under the land-pooling policy. The Ludhiana-based petitioner sought directions to quash the state government notification of June 24 along with the land pooling policy, 2025, being ultra vires and an act of 'colourable legislation', violating fundamental rights. On August 6, the court asked the Punjab government whether there was any provision in the policy for rehabilitation of the landless labourers for their sustenance. The state had also been directed to inform the court whether the social impact assessment was carried out before notifying the policy. The petitioner submitted that since 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 Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, was the only Act under which this policy could be framed. 'That 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 sabha were approached or consulted by the respondents before bringing the Land Pooling Policy 2025, which is clear disregard to the provisions mandated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013,' said the petition. Since there was no such provision of law under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement 2013 to frame the Land Pooling Policy 2025, there lies no mechanism or forum to challenge such policy and petitioner is left with no remedy to redress his grievance, the petition added. The AAP government has been facing flak from the opposition parties and various farmer bodies, which dubbed its land pooling policy a 'looting' scheme to 'rob' the farmers of their fertile land.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Land pooling policy put on hold till next hearing on Aug 7: Punjab AG submits in HC
CHANDIGARH : The Punjab advocate general on Wednesday submitted in the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the land pooling policy would be kept on hold and no further steps would be taken till the next hearing on Thursday. The submission came on a petition filed by Gurdeep Singh Gill, who challenged the Punjab government's land pooling scheme. The court has fixed Thursday (August 7) as the next date of hearing. As the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, the court asked the Punjab government whether there was any provision in the policy for rehabilitation of the landless labourers for their sustenance. The state has also been directed to inform the court whether a social impact assessment was carried out before notifying the land pooling policy. "He (the AG) shall also inform this court if an environmental impact assessment had been carried out before notifying the policy," a division bench of Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Deepak Manchanda said. The court said it has been directed by the Supreme Court in the case of 'Resident's Welfare Association and another vs Union Territory of Chandigarh (2023)' that before permitting urban development, an environmental impact assessment study should be conducted. "Learned advocate general, Punjab, shall also inform this court as to whether there is any provision in the policy for rehabilitation of the landless labourers and others, who do not own any land but are dependent on land for their sustenance," the bench said. "He submits that the policy would be kept on hold and no further steps would be taken till the next date of hearing," it said. Gill, the Ludhiana-based petitioner, had sought directions to quash the state government notification dated June 24 along with the land pooling policy 2025 for being ultra vires and an act of "colourable legislation", violating fundamental rights. The petitioner submitted that the policy is purported to be under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, but there is no such provision which empowers the state to frame such a policy as the provisions of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, is the only Act under which this 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 of the provisions mandated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013," the petition said. "Since there is no such provision of law under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, to frame the land pooling policy, therefore, there lies no mechanism or forum to challenge such policy and the petitioner is left with no remedy to redress his grievance," it said. The AAP government has been facing flak from the opposition parties and various farmer bodies, which have dubbed its land pooling policy a "looting" scheme to "rob" the farmers of their fertile land. AAP has hit out at the opposition parties for spreading "misleading propaganda" against the state government's policy, with party leaders describing it as "farmers-friendly". The Punjab Cabinet in June gave its nod to the land pooling policy and asserted that not a single yard will be forcibly acquired from the land owners. Under the land pooling policy, an owner will be given 1,000 square yard of residential plot and 200 square yard of commercial plot in fully developed land in lieu of one acre of land, the state government had said.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: GLADA slaps notice on violators as locals flag illegal construction
Authorities from the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) have issued a notice to stop illegal construction in Kiran Vihar Colony, located behind Hotel Keys in Ludhiana. The move comes after complaints from local residents who allege that a 2-kanal plot, originally earmarked for a community centre, is being wrongfully occupied and developed. The notice, issued under Section 88 of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, follows a site inspection by GLADA's regulatory team. According to officials, the construction was underway at the site despite the absence of approvals or necessary building permits. The assistant district town planner has directed immediate suspension of all ongoing construction activity, warning that failure to comply may result in sealing of the property, demolition of the structure and recovery of all expenses from those responsible. Residents of the colony submitted a detailed complaint to the GLADA, highlighting that the plot in question was marked for community use in the original layout plan approved in the late 1980s. The land was reportedly transferred in 2007 by late coloniser Balbir Singh Pujani to his daughter Poonamdeep Kaur with the stipulation that it be used solely for community purposes. A copy of the land registry, attached with the residents' representation, confirms this condition. Meanwhile, residents said the construction work was still going on. 'The construction is being carried out in violation of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Building Rules, 2021,' said Jaspal Singh, a resident. 'We urge GLADA to ensure that this land, meant for the welfare of all, is not misused for personal gain.' GLADA officials have stated that if valid ownership documents and building permissions are not produced within seven days, legal action would be initiated. The notice has also been forwarded to other government wings, including the PSPCL, the sub-registrar, Punjab Police and the forest and irrigation departments for coordinated enforcement. Junior engineer Amandeep Singh, part of GLADA's regulatory wing, confirmed that a halt order has been served and that the construction would be stopped completely. Further action will be taken after reviewing the documents, once submitted, he said, adding, 'We are going to issue a second notice wherein police help will be sought to stop illegal construction.'
