LAHORE, Feb 23 (APP): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday set aside all decisions issued by Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) in cases related to alleged illegal occupations under the Punjab Property Ownership Law, while transferring more than 1,500 pending petitions to the relevant tribunals for fresh proceedings.
The order was issued by a three-member full bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelam, with Justice Jawad Zafar and Justice Abher Gul Khan as members.
During the hearing, Advocate General Punjab Amjad Pervez informed the court that substantial amendments had been introduced to the Punjab Property Ownership Law through a newly promulgated amendment ordinance while the petitions were pending.
He explained that under the amended ordinance, judicial powers have been withdrawn from DRC committees, a biometric system has been introduced for lodging complaints, and authority has been shifted from the executive to specialized tribunals. He added that serving Additional Sessions Judges will now be appointed to the tribunals instead of retired judges, and the tribunals will be legally bound to decide cases within 30 days.
The court was further told that if a matter is already under adjudication before any court, the complainant may seek transfer of the case to a tribunal. The concerned court, after examining the record, will decide whether the case should be transferred.
It was also clarified that parties aggrieved by tribunal decisions will have the right to approach constitutional courts, including the Supreme Court of Pakistan or the High Court.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelam observed that the law had undergone clear and substantive changes, adding that petitions challenging the constitutionality of the law would be taken up at a later stage.
Subsequently, the court declared all actions and decisions of the DRC committees void, directed the transfer of all pending petitions to the tribunals, and instructed that the cases be heard and decided strictly in accordance with the amended ordinance and the law.