In a move expected to profoundly impact residents, the Punjab government has lifted the need for a No Objection Certificate (NoC) for registering plots up to 500 square yards. For thousands of small plot owners, this shift offers long-awaited relief from bureaucratic delays and opens a streamlined path to secure property registration. Revenue and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian hailed this decision as a Diwali gift to the people of Punjab from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, fulfilling a decade-old demand and addressing the struggles faced by property owners.
Residents will have at least two months to complete plot registrations once the government issues a formal notification after approvals by the concerned authorities. Minister Mundian emphasized how, for over a decade, residents across Punjab have faced significant difficulties in securing plot registrations due to cumbersome NoC requirements.
“With this change, families can now register their properties without delay, sidestepping the costly and time-consuming paperwork that left many in limbo,” he said.
The Government’s shift was realized through the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (PAPRA) Amendment Act, 2024, recently passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and approved by the Governor. The reform is expected to benefit those who entered into agreements for properties up to 500 square yards in unauthorized colonies on or before July 31, 2024. Such residents can now obtain legal property titles, sparing them the complex formalities of securing an NoC, which were previously mandatory even in cases of genuine need.
In addition to easing registration for individuals, the new regulations intensify oversight of illegal colonies. Under the amended Act, any developer or promoter violating compliance guidelines can face hefty fines ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs five crore, along with possible imprisonment from five to ten years. This enforcement approach seeks to protect small-plot owners from exploitative practices while tightening control over unauthorized developments.
Highlighting the neglect of past administrations, Mundian criticized previous governments for allowing illegal colonies to mushroom unchecked, leaving residents deprived of essential services such as street lighting and sewage facilities. “For years, people have been stranded in colonies without fundamental infrastructure due to mismanagement. This policy not only addresses those oversights but also aims to curb future exploitation by illegal developers,” he said.
