HC pauses Punjab’s land pooling policy; govt. to file reply within 4 weeks

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday granted an interim stay on the operation of the Punjab government’s Land Pooling Policy, 2025 and directed the State to file a reply within four weeks.

The court’s order came on a writ petition challenging the policy, which was introduced in June to promote planned and sustainable development by involving landowners, promoters, and companies as stakeholders in the development process.

A Division Bench of Justice Anupinder Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda expressed concern over the lack of provisions in the policy for the rehabilitation of landless labourers and others who do not own land but are dependent on it for their sustenance. The court questioned the government over not conducting a Social Impact Assessment.

The petitioner, Gurdeep Singh Gill, had challenged the policy, arguing that it was notified without carrying out the necessary environment and social impact assessments, which are essential for the acquisition of land under Sections 4 to 8 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Mr. Gill’s counsel, Gurjeet Singh, told reporters that the court had granted an interim stay on the policy and directed the government to file a reply within four weeks. The petitioner had sought directions for quashing the State government’s notification and the policy as “ultra vires, arbitrary, and violative of the Constitution”.

‘Looting scheme’

The Punjab government had introduced the policy to increase interest in land pooling among landowners, with the promise of providing 1,000 square yards of residential plot and 200 square yards of commercial plot in fully developed land in lieu of one acre of land. However, the Opposition parties and farmer bodies in the State have been opposing the policy, dubbing it a “looting” scheme to “rob” farmers of their fertile land.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday called the policy a “land-grabbing” scheme. He said the party would start a protest against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government from September 1 in Mohali, which would continue until the policy is withdrawn. He alleged that AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had done an “underhand deal” with Delhi builders to “hand over” farmers’ land to them.

The SAD chief claimed that the State government and Mr. Kejriwal were attacking farmers and the poor, and that they wanted to raise money for the party by looting Punjab.

Meanwhile, AAP hit out at the Opposition parties, alleging that they are spreading misleading propaganda against the State government’s policy. Party leaders described the policy as “farmer-friendly”.