Does Punjab Land Pooling Policy Make Any Provision For Rehabilitation Of Landless Labourers? High Court Asks State

In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Punjab government to clarify whether the state's Land Pooling Policy includes any provision for the rehabilitation of landless labourers affected by urban development projects. 

The State Government also informed the Court that the policy would be kept on hold and no further steps would be taken till the next date of hearing (August 7).

The Punjab Land Pooling Policy 2025, approved by the Bhagwant Mann government, aims to promote planned and sustainable urban development across the state, particularly by curbing the proliferation of illegal colonies and consolidating fragmented land parcels. A central aspect is its voluntary nature, encouraging landowners (farmers) to pool their land for development, unlike compulsory acquisition methods.

However, the same has received criticism from farmer's bodies and opposition parties have expressed resistance, perceiving the policy as a "land-grabbing scheme" that could displace farmers and impact agricultural practices

Justice Anupinder Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda asked the Advocate General (AG), Punjab to inform the Court as to "whether there is any provision in the policy, for rehabilitation of the landless labourers and others, who do not own any land but are dependent on the land for their sustenance."

It also noted that the AG prays for time to inform the Court as to whether the Social Impact Assessment was carried out before notifying the policy.

"He shall also inform this Court if the Environmental Impact Assessment had been carried out before notifying the policy. It has been directed by the Supreme Court in the case of Resident's Welfare Association and another Vs. Union Territory of Chandigarh, (2023) 8 Supreme Court Cases 643, that before permitting urban development, the Environmental Impact Assessment study should be conducted," it added.

In Resident's Welfare Association case, the Supreme Court had said that, "It is necessary that a proper balance is struck between sustainable development and environmental protection. We therefore appeal to the legislature, the executive and the policy-makers at the Centre as well as at the State levels to make necessary provisions for carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment studies before permitting urban development."

The plea filed by a resident of Ludhiana Gurdeep Singh Gill submitted that in terms of the Land Pooling Policy, 2025, notified on 04.06.2025), around 26,000 acres of land in Ludhiana District had been notified for setting up of residential and commercial projects.

The petitioner, a resident of Village Phagla and is owner of 6 acres of land, which had been allotted to his father as a displaced person in lieu of their land in District Lyallpur, Pakistan. They have invested and have made improvements to the land which is now fertile but has been included in the impugned policy.

He also contended the Policy is discriminatory against small land owners as it has been set out in Clause H(II) of the Land Pooling Policy that those offering 9 acres of land for land pooling would be given 3 acres for group housing while a land owner offering 50 acres would be returned 30 acres for plotted development, whereas the petitioner owns 6 acres of land and would be given only about an acre in return.

Mr. Gurjeet Singh Gill, Advocate and Mr. Manan Kheterpal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Shailendra Jain, Senior Advocate as Amicus Curiae with Mr. Rahul, Advocate,

Mr. Munish Sharma, Advocate and Mr. Ravinder Kumar,

Mr. Maninderjit Singh, Advocate General, Punjab Mr. Maninder Singh, Addl. A.G., Punjab

Mr. Rajiv Madan, Addl. A.G., Punjab. Mr. Shekhar Verma, Addl. A.G., Punjab. Mr. Aftab Singh Khara, Sr. DAG, Punjab

Ms. Anu Chatrath, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Ratik Chatrath, Advocate for respondent-State of Punjab.

Title: GURDEEP SINGH GILL VS STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER

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