Chandigarh, February 20
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, today welcomed the latest intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court staying the proposed sale of land belonging to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), calling it a crucial step in safeguarding Punjab’s strategic public assets.
Bajwa said the attempt to monetise PSPCL land raised serious concerns about transparency, long-term planning and the protection of vital state resources. “PSPCL is not merely a power utility; it is central to Punjab’s energy security and agricultural backbone. Disposing of its land without a comprehensive public debate and clear safeguards would have amounted to selling Punjab’s family silver to cover administrative failures,” he stated. He thanked the High Court for stepping in at the right time to prevent irreversible damage.
Referring to earlier interventions, Bajwa pointed out that this is not an isolated instance. The High Court had earlier stayed the controversial 65,000-acre land pooling scheme after widespread concerns were raised regarding farmer consent, compensation clarity and the large-scale diversion of fertile agricultural land. “Punjab is an agrarian state. Any policy that threatens farmers’ ownership rights or alters land use on such a massive scale must be approached with utmost caution and transparency,” he said.
Bajwa further noted that the government’s farmhouse policy was also halted amid objections that it would encourage commercial exploitation of prime agricultural land and create exclusive enclaves for the affluent. Similarly, the proposed hike in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) was put on hold, raising questions about urban planning norms, infrastructure strain and possible undue benefits to select private players.
Bajwa asserted that these repeated judicial stays reflect deeper governance failures and a pattern of pushing through policies without adequate consultation or accountability. He expressed gratitude to the judiciary for upholding constitutional principles and protecting the long-term interests of Punjabis. “In 2027, the people of Punjab will render their final judgment. Those who treated public land and institutions as expendable assets will be shown the door,” Bajwa said.
