Preamble

The Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2016

Government of Punjab

Received the assent of the Governor of Punjab on the 18th Day of October, 2016 and was published vide Notification No. No. 35-Leg./2016. Dated the 21st October,2016 in the Punjab Govt. Gaz (Extra), Legislative Supplement, Part I Dated 21, 2016 (ASVN 29, 1938 SAKA)

(Punjab Act No. 28 of 2016) An Act

to make special provisions for resolving the problems associated with the development of unauthorized colonies and thereby leading to infrastructure issues in the State of Punjab within a period of six months and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Whereas phenomenal increase in the population owing to migration has put tremendous pressure on land and infrastructure in Punjab resulting in developments which are not in consonance with the master plan of cities and towns and the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations Act, 1995, in the State;

Whereas the Government has constituted a Committee of Experts to look into the various aspects of unauthorized colonies and suggest a comprehensive strategy to deal with them;

Whereas a strategy is proposed to be prepared by the Government in the State of Punjab in accordance with the Punjab Housing and Habitat Policy for Urban Housing to all;

Whereas action for violation of the provisions of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995 and the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations Act, 1995, is causing avoidable hardship and irreparable loss to a large number of people;

Whereas some time is required for making orderly arrangements for solving problems of areas under unauthorized colonies;

Whereas it is expedient to have a law to provide temporary relief to the people of the State of Punjab against such action for a period of six months within which various policy issues referred to above are expected to be finalized;

And whereas the Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2013 was enacted for a period of one year from the date of its commencement and further the Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2014 was again enacted for a period of one year from the date of its commencement and the said period of one year of the operation of the Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2014 has expired on the 5th day of February, 2016. A large number of applications for regularization of unauthorized colonies, plots and buildings have been received under the said Acts but a large number of people including Non Resident Indians and the persons working outside the State of Punjab comprising the personnels of Defence Forces and Para Military Forces who could not apply earlier for regularization of unauthorized colonies, plots and buildings shall also get an opportunity for regularization of their plots/buildings falling in unauthorized colonies.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the Sixty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:-