Chandigarh: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking the quashing of the Punjab government’s recently notified land pooling policy, citing alleged violations of legal safeguards.
The petition, filed by social activists Navinder PK Singh and Smita Kaur through advocates Sahir Singh Virk and V.B. Singh, argues that the policy lacks compliance with mandatory provisions such as social and environmental impact assessments, fair compensation, and rehabilitation for affected families.
The PIL, submitted through Godara, challenges the Punjab government’s July 4 policy, claiming it facilitates the acquisition of fertile, multi-crop agricultural land in Ludhiana and Mohali districts. According to the petitioners, over 24,000 acres of cultivable land across more than 50 villages in Ludhiana are being acquired “under the garb of urbanisation and development,” with an additional 21,000 acres earmarked for industrial expansion.
The plea highlights that the targeted land is not only vital to the livelihoods of thousands of farmers but also essential for ensuring food security in Punjab, a state historically known as the ‘food store’ of the country.
The PIL comes amid ongoing protests from farmers and opposition parties who have been demanding the withdrawal of the land pooling policy, warning it will lead to large-scale displacement and agricultural loss.
