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

Background

The Punjab government introduced the Land Pooling Policy, 2025, in June to promote planned and sustainable development by involving landowners, promoters, and companies as stakeholders in the development process. The policy aimed to acquire land from willing landowners and provide them with a share of the developed land or its value. However, the policy has been challenged in court, with a writ petition filed by Gurdeep Singh Gill, arguing that it was notified without carrying out the necessary environment and social impact assessments.

Sequence of Events

Recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court heard the writ petition challenging the policy. The court, comprising 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, as required by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013. The petitioner’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.

Community Impact

The interim stay on the policy has a significant impact on the community. The policy was meant to provide landowners with a share of the developed land or its value, but the lack of provisions for the rehabilitation of landless labourers and others who do not own land but are dependent on it for their sustenance has left them uncertain about their future. The government’s decision to introduce the policy without conducting a Social Impact Assessment has been questioned by the court, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the court’s concerns.

Local Significance

The Punjab government’s Land Pooling Policy, 2025, has significant implications for the landowners and landless labourers in Punjab. The policy was meant to promote planned and sustainable development, but the lack of provisions for the rehabilitation of landless labourers has raised concerns about the policy’s fairness and equity. The interim stay on the policy has provided a temporary reprieve to the landowners and landless labourers, but the outcome of the case remains uncertain.

What Happens Next

The Punjab government has been directed to file a reply within four weeks, and the court will hear the case further. The petitioner, Gurdeep Singh Gill, has announced that he will launch a stir on September 1 and continue it until the policy is withdrawn. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the landowners and landless labourers in Punjab, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the court’s concerns.