Punjab Moves Over 15,000 Property Cases to New Tribunals

The Punjab government has authorized the relocation of 15,884 pending property complaints involving potential illegal possession to newly formed property tribunals throughout the region. These pending complaints, currently managed by deputy commissioners and dispute resolution committees, will be transferred to the appropriate property tribunals alongside their full records.

Citizens who had initially filed complaints under the previous system will not need to submit new applications. The property tribunals will proceed with the ongoing cases under the updated legislation. The Punjab Advocate General has confirmed the transfer's legal validity and practicality. According to the amended law, claims of illegal property ownership will now fall under the jurisdiction of property tribunals rather than being predominantly handled by deputy commissioners.

This decision stems from guidance provided by the Lahore High Court concerning the management of pending complaints following modifications to the law. The provincial administration can formally transfer the cases under Section 26, enabling the tribunals to reassess them under the revised legal structure. This action aims to shift thousands of unresolved disputes related to property ownership to the new tribunal framework without compelling complainants to restart the legal process.