District Resolution Committees stripped of judicial powers

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared all decisions of District Resolution Committees (DRCs) in property possession disputes null and void, referring more than 500 pending petitions to the designated tribunal for fresh adjudication under the amended Punjab Property Ownership law.

A three-member full bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued the order while hearing a batch of petitions challenging actions taken under the Punjab Property Ownership legislation.

During the proceedings, Advocate General Punjab Amjad Pervaiz presented a newly promulgated amending ordinance before the court, informing the bench that significant changes had been introduced while the petitions were pending.

Under the amended ordinance, DRCs will no longer exercise judicial powers, and the authority previously held by executive officers has been transferred to a tribunal.

Serving Additional District and Sessions Judges, instead of retired judges, will now be appointed to the tribunal.

The new law also introduces a biometric system for filing complaints and empowers the tribunal to award up to five years' imprisonment for filing false claims.

The tribunal has been directed to decide applications within 30 days.

According to the ordinance, if a related matter is already pending before a court, the complainant may seek transfer of the case to the tribunal.

The court concerned will examine the record and determine whether the matter should be transferred. Appeals against tribunal proceedings may be filed before constitutional courts, including the High Court and the Supreme Court.

The Advocate General argued that petitions challenging the vires of the earlier law had become ineffective in light of the amendments.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum observed that substantial changes had been made to the legislation, adding that petitions regarding its constitutional validity would be examined at a later stage.

The court formally set aside all previous DRC proceedings and directed the tribunal to decide the pending matters strictly in accordance with the amended ordinance.