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Hindustan Times
5 hours 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
12 hours 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
19 hours 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
a day 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.
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Devanahalli land acquisition row: Farmers' meeting with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah inconclusive, new meeting on July 15
The meeting between farmers opposing the Karnataka Government's plan to acquire 1,777 acres in the Bengaluru Rural district for a defence and aerospace park and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru ended inconclusively Friday. During the meeting, several farmer unions, including the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, and actor-turned-politician Prakash Raj, are said to have urged Siddaramaiah to cancel the land acquisition notification issued by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), but no decision was reached. According to sources privy to the meeting, Siddaramaiah has called for another round of talks, scheduled for 11 am on July 15. The farmers said the government has informed them that the final notification cannot be withdrawn due to legal constraints. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act, 2013) outlines a multi-stage process for land acquisition, including preliminary notification (Section 11), public consultation, social impact assessment (SIA), and final notification (Section 19). Once the final notification is issued, the process becomes legally binding, and withdrawal is complex unless specific conditions are met, such as procedural irregularities or failure to comply with the Act. Raghu, one of the protesting farmers, told The Indian Express, 'We are not at all convinced with today's meeting. We expected the chief minister to take a pro-farmer stand, but we got nothing. Whenever there are issues related to farmers, the state government comes up with excuses such as legal constraints. We had hopes that the chief minister would stand by us, but all hopes were dashed.' The farmers also did not agree to any negotiations linked to seeking more compensation. 'We had decided before the meeting that talks on compensation should be off the table. If they spoke about compensation, we had decided to stage a walkout. Our only demand is to stop the land acquisition process. If the government still goes ahead, bloodshed will follow in our villages,' said Raghu. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Siddaramaiah said experts have informed them that there are certain legal hurdles associated with dropping the land acquisition process. 'Since the final notification has already been issued in April, it is necessary to deliberate on its pros and cons. The government requires a 10-day time frame to arrive at a clear decision,' he said. 'The government cannot take any steps against the law. As the final notification has been issued in accordance with the law, its legal aspects must be thoroughly examined. A preliminary meeting regarding this was held (with legal experts) yesterday (Thursday),' the Karnataka chief minister added. Siddaramaiah also stated that it was not possible to announce the government's stand immediately, and another meeting would be held in 10 days, during which the government is expected to clarify its position. 'We believe in democracy and dialogue. We have not obstructed any protest. The government has not attempted to suppress the protests. I, too, have been part of farmers' unions,' he added.
