Punjab Government Ends Disputed Land Rule The Punjab Government today pulls back its controversial land policy, a major move that follows strong public anger and wide protests. This policy, which caused much worry among farmers and common people about their land rights, faced strong pushback across the state. The government’s sudden action aims to calm rising tensions and meet the demands for fair land rules.
About the Land Policy
The Punjab government recently withdrew its Land Pooling Policy 2025, a move that came after strong public opposition and legal challenges. This policy was first announced by notifications on May 14, 2025. June 4, 2025, with some changes made on July 25, 2025. The main goal of the policy was to bring together farm land for organized urban growth, including residential areas and business zones. It aimed to combine small pieces of land and then give back developed plots to the original owners. The government had plans to take over a large amount of land under this scheme. Initially, it looked at more than 40,000 acres. Later reports suggested the policy aimed to get around 65,000 acres across the state. A significant portion of this, about 45,000 acres, was in the Ludhiana district alone. The government said this policy would help control thousands of illegal buildings and improve farmers’ lives by involving them in city development. Officials also argued that the policy would benefit farmers by increasing the value of their land.
Why People Opposed the Policy
The Land Pooling Policy quickly faced strong resistance from many groups, especially farmers and landowners. They saw the policy as unfair to farmers and as a way for the government to take over their land. Protests broke out all over the state, with people holding rallies and marches using tractors and motorcycles. Many local village councils, at least 115 of them, officially passed statements saying they would not give their land for the scheme. Farmers were worried they would lose their fertile farming land and would not get fair returns or lasting security for their future. Some people compared this policy to the controversial farm laws introduced in 2020 by the central government, which were later cancelled after a year of protests. They believed this new land policy was even more harmful because it directly involved taking their land. Experts also looked at the policy and said it was not clear and had many problems. Even after the government tried to make the deal better by offering more money, including a yearly living allowance of ₹1 lakh, farmers continued their protests. Only a small number of landowners, 115 out of the many thousands targeted, agreed to join the scheme.
Court Steps In
The legal system also became involved as the opposition grew. The Punjab and Haryana High Court stepped in and temporarily stopped the policy on August 7, 2025, for four weeks. The court found several legal and process-related problems with the policy. The court pointed out that the government did not do vital environmental impact assessments or social impact assessments. These assessments are needed to interpret how a large project might affect the environment and the people living in the area. The court also noted that the policy lacked clear timelines, ways to handle complaints. proper budget plans. It suggested that the policy seemed to have been put in place too quickly without considering these crucial details. The court also highlighted that there was no plan to help landless workers, daily wage earners. others who depended on the land but did not own it. The judges also reminded the government that taking land that produces many crops is not allowed under a 2013 law, unless there are very special reasons.
Government Pulls Back the Policy
Facing mounting pressure from farmers, landowners. a court order, the Punjab government decided to withdraw the controversial land policy. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann signed the withdrawal papers on August 11, 2025. The government’s housing department had presented the file earlier. reports suggested the decision was made because the protests against the policy had become very difficult to manage. Sources indicated that the top leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) felt the strong negative reaction had taken attention away from the government’s other good works. The Principal Secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Vikas Garg, officially announced the withdrawal. His statement said: “Government hereby withdraws the Land Pooling Policy dated 14. 5. 2025 and its subsequent amendments. Consequently, all actions, like LOIs issued, registries done or any other action taken thereunder shall be reversed henceforth.” This means that any steps taken under the policy, such as issuing letters of intent or registering land, will be undone. On August 14, 2025, the Punjab Cabinet also officially approved the decision to de-notify, or cancel, the policy.
What People are Saying
The decision to withdraw the policy was met with various reactions from different groups. Farmer leaders welcomed the government’s step, calling it a victory for their efforts. But, they also pointed out that the withdrawal only happened after intense protests and demonstrations across the state. Some farmer leaders stated that the government had pushed the policy without properly talking to them first. Jagmohan Singh, a senior farmer leader, expressed that it seemed “good sense has prevailed.” Political parties in the opposition also spoke out, claiming the withdrawal as a win for the people of Punjab. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the President of Shiromani Akali Dal, called the policy a “land grabbing scheme” and said his party would continue to highlight issues with the current government. Sunil Jakhar, the head of the BJP in Punjab, mentioned his party’s strong stand against the policy. A senior leader from the Congress party, Pargat Singh, viewed the withdrawal as a success for farmers, laborers. all citizens who took part in the grassroots movement against the policy. 
