Setback to Punjab govt: High Court halts transfer and sale of PSPCL properties
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered an immediate stay on the transfer or sale of any property owned by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), dealing a setback to the Punjab Government’s plan to monetise public assets.
The interim order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor during the hearing of an application seeking urgent intervention in the matter. The court has restrained PSPCL from transferring its assets until further directions. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 16.
The development follows a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by senior advocate Baltej Singh Sidhu, who sought a stay on the proposed sale and transfer of PSPCL’s properties. Earlier, the High Court had issued a notice to the Punjab Government in response to the petition.
During the proceedings, it was brought to the court’s attention that PSPCL had already transferred approximately 50 acres of land at Badungar site in Patiala to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). The board of directors of PSPCL had recently approved the transfer. An application filed by Rajbir Singh urged the court to intervene immediately, arguing that the transfer was executed while the matter was still under judicial consideration.
According to official estimates, the Punjab Government had identified several high-value PSPCL assets for potential monetisation, anticipating revenue of nearly Rs 1,500 crore. Among the properties reportedly considered was land in the thermal colony area of Bathinda.
Employee bodies, including the PSEB Engineers’ Association and other staff unions, have been opposing the move, describing it as detrimental to the financial and operational stability of the power utility. They had initiated protest measures against the proposed asset transfers.
The PIL also highlighted PSPCL’s financial stress, stating that the government’s pending electricity subsidy dues have reportedly crossed Rs 10,000 crore. Additionally, outstanding electricity bills owed by various government departments are said to amount to approximately Rs 2,582 crore. The petition argued that disposing of core assets would aggravate the corporation’s financial challenges rather than resolve them.
Confirming the development, senior advocate Baltej Singh Sidhu stated that the High Court has stayed the transfer of PSPCL properties until further orders.
- PTC NEWS
