LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) - The Lahore High Court has declared all decisions of the DRC committees null and void while hearing more than 1,500 petitions filed against actions taken under the Punjab Property Ownership law.
The court ordered that all pending petitions be transferred to the relevant tribunal for further proceedings.
A three-member full bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, and comprising Justice Jawad Zafar and Justice Abhar Gul Khan, heard the case.
During proceedings, Punjab’s Advocate General Amjad Pervaiz presented a new amending ordinance related to the property ownership law, informing the court that significant amendments had been introduced while the petitions were pending.
Advocate General stated that judicial powers have been withdrawn from the DRC committees under the new ordinance.
A biometric system has been introduced for filing complaints, and authority has been shifted from the executive to a tribunal. Instead of retired judges, serving additional session judges will now be appointed to the tribunal, which will be bound to decide applications within 30 days.
LHC constitutes full bench to hear property ownership ordinance case
The court was further informed that if a matter is already pending before any court, the complainant may request its transfer to the tribunal.
The concerned court will then review the record and determine whether the case should be transferred.
Moreover, decisions of the tribunal may be challenged before the constitutional court, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, or the Lahore High Court.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum remarked that clear changes have been made in the law and that petitions challenging its constitutionality would be examined at a later stage.
In its written order, the court annulled all proceedings conducted by the DRC committees and directed that all pending petitions be heard afresh by the tribunal under the newly amended ordinance and decided in accordance with law.