Punjab court mandates NOC for property registration compliance

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made an important ruling regarding property registrations in Punjab. The court stated that no property can be registered without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the relevant authority. This decision came after a public interest lawsuit was filed by a resident named Prem Prakash from Ludhiana. The court has asked the Punjab government to respond by April 24. It emphasized the need to follow Section 20 (3) of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act of 1995. This section prevents the registration of properties in unauthorized colonies unless a valid license and NOC are presented. Recently, the Punjab government amended this law, allowing some property registrations in unauthorized areas until July 31, 2024. This change has raised concerns that it encourages unauthorized colonies, which contradicts the original intent of the 1995 Act. The court's judgment comes amid complaints about traffic issues in Punjab's cities, such as Ludhiana and Amritsar. Residents argue that unauthorized colonies contribute to these problems. The latest petition aims to cancel the 2024 amendment and strengthen the enforcement of the original law. It calls for the demolition of illegal colonies established after a notification relaxing property registration rules in 2018.