PUNJAB ALLAYS MISGIVINGS ABOUT SURPLUS AREA CIRCULAR

PUNJAB ALLAYS MISGIVINGS ABOUT SURPLUS AREA CIRCULAR

FCR APPEALS TO ALL CONCERNED NOT TO GET ALARMED

CONTACT DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS OR THE OFFICE OF FCR IN CASE OF ANY DOUBT OR CLARIFICATION

Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau, Chandigarh, July 1:
Taking cognizance of a news item regarding resumption of surplus land from the developers published in a section of press, Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Mr. KBS Sidhu today clarified about misgivings arising out of the circular published by the State Revenue Department on May 3, 2017 related to the implementation of Surplus Area/Ceiling Laws in State.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sidhu, who is also Special Chief Secretary (Revenue), categorically stated that the news item had placed selective contents of the circular out of context and misinterpreted it, while quoting unauthorized sources. Mr. Sidhu further said that the position of law as codified under the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972 continued to be the same. As such, the provisions pertaining to the Surplus Area were attracted only in respect of “agricultural land or land used for purposes of subservient thereto”.
Clarifying the issue, Financial Commissioner (Revenue) revealed that neither any amendment had been effected nor was any move on the anvil to change this basic position. In any case, land used for non-agricultural purposes like industrial use, development of residential/industrial colonies and townships and educational institutions continued to be out of the purview of this enactment, if permission for the change of land use had been obtained from the Competent Authority, even if the quantum of area held in the name of any single legal entity exceeded the permissible area stipulated under the law for agricultural purposes.
Mr. KBS Sidhu further stated that the implication in the news that the Government was keen to retrieve land from promoters who had failed to implement mega-projects was highly misleading and mischievous. Mr. Sidhu emphasized that circular merely reiterated the enabling provision effected through an amendment in the year 2011, under which any person who acquired agricultural land in excess of the permissible area but intended to be put it for non-agricultural use, such as residential, commercial or institutional, had a one-year window to get such change of land use effected, without attracting provisions of the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972.
The Financial Commissioner (Revenue) appealed to all concerned not to be alarmed in this respect and asked any person, who was being mislead by the lower revenue staff, to bring the matter to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector or to the notice of Office of Financial Commissioner, Revenue at Phone No. 0172-2743854 or through email: fcr@punjab.gov.in for any clarification and suitable administrative action.