The Lahore High Court on Friday referred multiple petitions challenging actions taken under the Property Ownership Act to a full bench, warning that any land possession granted after the suspension of the ordinance would carry serious consequences.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelam heard 10 petitions filed by citizens against proceedings initiated under the act. After preliminary arguments, the court ordered that all petitions be placed before a full bench for further hearing.
During the proceedings, a citizen who had obtained possession of property under the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) mechanism also appeared before the court.
Questioning the legality of such actions, the chief justice asked the petitioner’s counsel how an allegedly unlawful decision could be defended.
Counsel conceded that committees formed under deputy commissioners had exceeded their authority in several cases.
The chief justice directed that possession obtained through such processes be returned immediately, adding that the court would only proceed further after compliance.
Justice Neelam questioned why action should not be initiated against members of the committees involved.
She also made it clear that the court’s concern was not ownership of the property, but whether deputy commissioners had the legal authority to decide such matters.
Lawyers informed the court that in some districts, including Gujranwala, possession of land was handed over even after the ordinance had been suspended.
In one case, a DRC committee reportedly delivered possession of 40 acres in Dipalpur within 27 days.
The court ordered the immediate restoration of possession in cases where land had been handed over through DRC committees and summoned the complete record of the committees’ proceedings.
The chief justice cautioned that if any authority facilitated land possession after the court order or following the suspension of the ordinance, those responsible should be prepared to face the consequences.
The petitions were formally referred to a full bench for comprehensive adjudication.
