Punjab & Haryana HC stays Punjab's land pooling policy pending environmental assessment
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a temporary stay on the Punjab Government's land pooling policy, stating that no further action can be taken until a comprehensive environmental assessment study is conducted. The court stressed that the process must not move forward without a detailed evaluation of its environmental impact.
The Punjab Government’s legal counsel argued that no land acquisition has taken place under the policy so far. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court raised several critical questions related to the policy and has sought a detailed response from the state in the next hearing, scheduled for tomorrow (August 7).
The petition challenging the land pooling policy was filed by advocate Gurdeep Singh, a Ludhiana resident and a farmer whose land falls under the purview of the policy. Representing the interests of fellow farmers and landowners, he contended that the Punjab Government’s policy contradicts the Land Acquisition Rules laid out by the Central Government, which cannot be altered by a state government at will. The court accepted the petition and began formal hearings into the matter.
During the hearing, the HC directed the government’s legal team to clarify whether the policy had taken into account Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and Environmental Planning Assessment (EPA) before its notification.
The Bench remarked that failure to conduct these assessments prior to notification could amount to a violation of Supreme Court guidelines. It further stated that until complete information is provided, the policy should remain on hold.
The court also emphasised that the impact of the policy on farmers, food security, and livestock should be thoroughly analysed. The Punjab Government has been instructed to submit all required documentation and reports in the next hearing. The matter is now scheduled for a final hearing tomorrow.
- PTC NEWS
