Governor promulgates protection of ownership of immovable property (Amendment) Ord

LAHORE: Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, in exercise of the powers vested in him under clause (1) of Article 128 of the Constitution, has promulgated the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance and the Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.

The amendment ordinance will promote digitalization and innovation in Punjab Land Revenue. It also aims to strengthen the system of transparency, efficiency and accountability in land matters to facilitate land owners. Under the Immovable Property Ownership Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, a scrutiny committee will be established in place of the Dispute Resolution Committee. In addition to DC, DPO, ADCR, AC, SDPO, Circle Revenue Officer and Officer-in-Charge of Police Station have been added to the Scrutiny Committee.

For the crime of illegal possession, imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 million or both will be imposed. In case of false complaint, a fine of Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment of up to 5 years.

In the previous law, complaints were filed before the Dispute Resolution Committee, but now the complaint will be filed before a tribunal consisting of serving judges. The tribunal will be obliged to send the complaint to the Scrutiny Committee for a report within 3 days.

The Scrutiny Committee will submit a report within 30 days, while in the previous law this period could be extended by 90 days with the permission of the Commissioner.

The tribunal will decide within 30 days, while earlier this period was 90 days. In addition, under the said ordinance, the tribunal has been given the authority to hear connected offences in same trial, while earlier the jurisdiction of the tribunal was limited only to offences taken under this Act only.

Instead of the Deputy Commissioner, the tribunal has been given the authority to take preventive measures. After the promulgation of the ordinance, serving Additional Sessions Judges will be members of the tribunal, while earlier retired judges of the High Court and Sessions Court were members.

The following amendments have been made in the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance:

Partition of lands with transfer of possession has been ensured.

Reforms have been introduced in the appeals, review process. A procedure for issuing summons, notices and announcements through electronic digital means has been devised. A legal procedure has been formulated for the demarcation of lands and eviction of illegal occupants.

An e-registration system has been introduced for land transfer.

Under the new law, all land transfers will be made digital. The Patwari will have the power to make only hereditary transfers.

Under the new law, only the Board of Revenue will have the power to remand a case to the lower court.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026