Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, December 22

After much dilly-dallying and even crossing swords with the departments of Housing and Urban Development and Local Bodies, Punjab, the Revenue Department has ultimately decided not to register sale deeds of plots/properties in such colonies that have not obtained license from the competent authority. Sale deeds of those colonies located in khasra numbers of land uploaded on the public domain by departments concerned as unauthorised/illegal colonies will also not be registered.

To prevent haphazard growth of unplanned and illegal colonies in Punjab, the officials concerned are hereby directed that before registering any conveyance deed, the list uploaded on the portal of the Revenue Department containing authorised and unauthorised colonies, along with khasra numbers, may be examined carefully. Special Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner, Punjab

In speaking orders given by the Special Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner (FCR), Punjab, on November 22, 2021, it has been stated: “I accordance with directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court during disposal of a civil write petition (CWP 133/2021), all registration officers in the state have been asked not to insist on obtaining NOC before registration of sale deeds as it will cause unnecessary harassment to the general public.”

“However, in the interest of preventing haphazard growth of unplanned and illegal colonies in Punjab, you are hereby directed that before registering any conveyance deed the list uploaded on the portal of this department containing authorised and unauthorised colonies, along with khasra numbers may be examined,” the FCR added.

The FCR further intimated revenue officials that this (Revenue) department would soon be issuing a notification under Section 19-A(1)(C) of the Registration Act, along with a list of legal and illegal colonies and khasra numbers.

“Only in case the property sought to be transferred falls in khasra numbers of illegal colonies the registration is to be refused as per relevant provisions of the Registration Act,” the FCR said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) put on agenda a proposal, discussed at the General House meeting held here today, to ask Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to issue new electricity connections only if approved building plans of premises and documents in support of the property having been regularised were produced by applicants.

Taking up the issue of release of new electricity connections to properties located in illegal colonies once again with the PSPCL, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) regretted that in spite of clear instructions in this regard, the matter was not being taken seriously by power utility officials.

In an official letter dated December 21, 2021, the Chief Administrator (CA) of GLADA has written to the PSPCL Chief Engineer/Central Zone that in accordance with Section 20 sub section (2) of PAPRA (Amended Act) and provision made under the regularisation policy no electricity, sewer, water and telephone connections could be issued to any building or land situated in an unlicensed colony and no sale deeds of properties in such colonies would be registered.

GLADA emphasised upon the PSPCL not to issue any new electricity connection to unlicensed/illegal colonies and if any power connections have been issued, these be disconnected forthwith.