In a landmark decision that has sent shockwaves through Punjab's real estate and political circles, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged illegal occupation and transfer of valuable evacuee properties in Amritsar.
Court Takes Stern Action Against Property Mafia
The division bench, comprising Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta, delivered the decisive verdict while hearing a petition filed by one Gurdial Singh. The petitioner had approached the court alleging massive irregularities in the management and transfer of evacuee properties that were supposed to be under government protection.
What are Evacuee Properties? These are properties left behind by people who migrated to Pakistan during the Partition of 1947. Under the Evacuee Property Act, these assets are managed by the Custodian Department of the state government.
Shocking Revelations and Political Connections
The court proceedings revealed disturbing patterns of fraudulent activities:
- Illegal occupation of prime properties in Amritsar's most valuable locations
- Forged documents and fraudulent transfer deeds
- Alleged involvement of government officials in facilitating illegal transactions
- Properties worth crores of rupees being grabbed through dubious means
During the hearing, the bench expressed serious concerns about the "property mafia" operating in the region and questioned how such large-scale illegal transfers could occur without political patronage or administrative collusion.
Why CBI Investigation Was Necessary
The High Court justified handing over the case to CBI, citing several compelling reasons:
- The inter-state ramifications of the property scam
- Need for an independent agency free from local influences
- Complex nature of transactions spanning multiple jurisdictions
- Potential involvement of high-profile individuals and officials
"The manner in which the property has been transferred raises serious questions about the functioning of the Custodian Department," the court observed during the proceedings.
Broader Implications for Property Rights in Punjab
This case has brought into focus the larger issue of evacuee property management across Punjab. Many such properties, particularly in border districts like Amritsar, have been subject to illegal occupations and fraudulent transfers over decades.
The CBI probe is expected to:
- Unearth the complete network behind the property grab
- Identify officials and middlemen involved in the scam
- Recover illegally occupied properties
- Bring the guilty to justice regardless of their political connections
Legal experts believe this judgment could set a precedent for similar cases of evacuee property disputes across northern India, particularly in states that witnessed large-scale migration during Partition.
The state government has been directed to provide complete cooperation to the CBI team that will now take over the investigation. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August, by when the central agency is expected to submit its preliminary findings.
