Punjab Land Pooling Policy Faces Legal Reckoning
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the Punjab government’s controversial land pooling policy. The petition, filed on July 29, 2025, alleges serious flaws in the policy’s implementation.
The PIL specifically targets the policy’s impact on fertile agricultural land in Ludhiana and Mohali districts. It argues that the policy violates crucial environmental safeguards and fails to ensure fair compensation to farmers.
The petitioners contend that the policy bypasses the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR) of 2013, ignoring established legal frameworks for land acquisition. They also highlight widespread farmer protests against the policy.
The PIL seeks the immediate quashing of the land pooling policy, demanding a thorough review of its legality and impact. The court’s decision will have significant implications for similar land acquisition projects across the state and potentially nationwide. This case underscores the ongoing tension between development projects and the rights of farmers, a critical issue in India’s agrarian economy.
