No clarity on plots registered in illegal colonies prior to July 31

Days after the Housing Department notified three-month window to plot holders in illegal colonies to register their properties without no-objection certificate (NOC) by February 28, 2025, confusion prevails regarding properties registered prior to July 31, 2024.

By amending the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Act, any property holder having power of attorney or agreement to sell stamp papers or a registered document with respect to the title of the land till July 31, 2024, can get their property up to 500 sq yd registered with the sub-registrar or joint sub-registrar, without NOC from the authority concerned.

The three-month window has been allowed under Section 20 (5) of the PAPRA Act-1995 and the properties registered during this period get immunity under Section 20 (1), (2) and (3) of the PAPRA Act to get the building plan sanctioned and get power, sewage and water connection.

“Since the amendment to the PAPRA Act talks about the properties registered during the three-month window, there is no clarity about the plots that have been registered prior to July 31, 2024. In many such cases, the plot holders after getting their properties registered are yet to get the basic amenities. The government needs to come clean on this,” said Gurvinder Singh Lamba, president, Punjab Colonisers’ and Property Dealers’ Association.

It has been pointed out that as per the amendment, the exemption from getting the NOC to get the basic amenities is only for those properties that are registered between December 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025, the government needs to clarify the status of the plot holders who get their properties registered prior to the waivers announced by the state.

The Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) had sought clarification from the office of the Advocate General (AG) for issuing power connections to plots registered within the three-month window and prior to July 31, 2024, said a senior government functionary.