Big Blow To Private Owners As ₹2,500 Crore Worth 810 Acres Of Prime Panchkula Land Across Bir Firozari, Kami, Sultanpur And Jalouli Reverts To Haryana Government

In a major development in one of Haryana’s longest-running land disputes, private landowners have suffered a huge setback after the Ambala divisional commissioner ordered that nearly 810 acres of prime Panchkula land worth an estimated ₹2,500 crore be transferred to the Haryana government.

The disputed land, spread across multiple villages including Bir Firozari, Kami, Sultanpur, Jalouli, Barwala, Sangrana, Bir Babupur, Bhareli and Fatehpur Viran, had earlier been mutated in the names of private owners. However, the latest order has cancelled those mutations and directed that the land be recorded in the name of the state government.

The case is linked to the estate of former landlord Sardar Bhagwant Singh and has remained entangled in legal and revenue proceedings for more than six decades.

Ambala Divisional Commissioner Passes Major Order

Ambala divisional commissioner Sanjeev Verma passed the order while hearing an executive revision petition filed by Asha Singh, a resident of Dehradun and one of the legal heirs of Sardar Bhagwant Singh.

The commissioner also directed the collector, agrarian, Panchkula, to reconsider the entire matter after hearing all parties involved and pass a fresh order within two months.

According to the order, around 810 acres, 5 kanals and 7 marlas of land currently recorded in the names of private individuals will now revert to the Haryana government.

The commissioner observed that the land falls under Section 12(3) of the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972, and therefore legally vests with the state government.

The order further noted that nearly 583 acres, 3 kanals and 16 marlas had already been mutated in favour of the Haryana government earlier, while the remaining land must also now be transferred to the state.

What Is The Panchkula Land Dispute?

The Panchkula land dispute dates back over 60 years and concerns approximately 1,396 acres of land once owned by Sardar Bhagwant Singh across several villages in present-day Panchkula district.

The disputed land parcels are situated in Bir Firozari (Beed Firozadi), Kami, Sultanpur, Barwala, Sangrana, Jalouli, Bir Babupur, Bhareli and Fatehpur Viran villages.

Sardar Bhagwant Singh died on October 30, 1960, leaving behind seven legal heirs. However, surplus land proceedings initiated under the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953, continued even after his death.

Under surplus land laws, agricultural land held beyond the legally permissible limit can be taken over by the government.

Case Remained Pending For Decades

In his May 26 order, the divisional commissioner stated that the matter had been decided multiple times over the years but was repeatedly remanded back by higher authorities and courts, delaying final resolution.

Due to continuous litigation and repeated appeals, the surplus land proceedings remained pending for more than six decades.

The commissioner also referred to a March 31, 2020, order passed by the collector, agrarian, Panchkula, which had allotted 30 standard acres of land to each legal heir of Sardar Bhagwant Singh.

That order had also clarified that individuals who purchased portions of the land after 1958 would not be entitled to any legal relief.

Punjab And Haryana High Court Had Ordered Fresh Determination

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier directed the collector, agrarian, Panchkula, on February 24, 2023, to redetermine the surplus land area within one year as per law.

Following the High Court’s directions, Asha Singh approached the financial commissioner, revenue, seeking corrections in revenue records related to the 1,396-acre estate before implementation of the HC order.

Although the process of making corrections in the revenue record had started, the collector, agrarian, later withdrew the earlier orders on January 4, 2024, and directed reversal of all changes made in the records.

This January 2024 order was subsequently challenged before the Ambala divisional commissioner.

Divisional Commissioner Cancels Private Mutations

The divisional commissioner observed that the entire landholding should be treated as belonging to Sardar Bhagwant Singh because the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953, had already come into force during his lifetime.

The commissioner ruled that the mutations sanctioned in favour of private owners were not legally sustainable and therefore stood cancelled.

The matter has now been remanded back to the collector, agrarian, Panchkula, for fresh proceedings after hearing all concerned parties.

What Is Haryana Ceiling On Land Holdings Act?

Under the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972, individuals were allowed to hold agricultural land only within prescribed limits ranging from around 18 acres to 54.5 acres depending on land category.

Land beyond the prescribed limit could be declared surplus and vested with the state government.

In 2011, amendments to the law exempted certain urban and non-agricultural land parcels from the ceiling provisions.

Section 12(3) of the Act provides that surplus land declared under earlier Punjab and PEPSU laws, which had not already vested with the state, would also be deemed to vest with the Haryana government.

Keywords: Panchkula land dispute, 810 acres Panchkula land, Haryana government land case, Bir Firozari land dispute, Kami village land case, Sultanpur land dispute, Jalouli land news, Panchkula prime land, Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, Ambala divisional commissioner, Panchkula mutation case, surplus land Haryana, ₹2500 crore land case Haryana

Meta Description: Haryana government gets control of ₹2,500 crore worth 810 acres of prime Panchkula land across Bir Firozari, Kami, Sultanpur and Jalouli after Ambala divisional commissioner cancels private mutations.

Source: Hindustan Times report, revenue court order, Punjab and Haryana High Court records, and official proceedings.

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