Property Registration in Illegal Colonies Without NOC: Bhagwant Mann’s ‘Gift’ to Punjab

The Bhagwant Mann government’s move to bring in the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was passed last month, has come as a big relief to those buying plots in illegal colonies.

The legislation did away with the practice of NOC (no objection certificate) for the registration of properties in illegal colonies.

As per the provisions, any person who, up to July 31, 2024, has entered into a power of attorney, agreement to sell on stamp paper, or any other such document for an area up to 500 square yards in an unauthorized colony, will not require any NOC for registration of land.

Such property owners will be entitled to get registration of such an area executed before a registrar or sub-registrar or joint sub-registrar and this exemption of getting such an area registered shall be available up to the date as may be notified by the state government.

According to the law, if any person or promoter or agent registered under this Act fails to comply with the relevant provision of the law, he/she shall be punished with imprisonment for a minimum term of five years which may extend to 10 years and with minimum fine of Rs 25 lakh, which may extend to Rs 5 crore.

As per sources, the Mann government had been working for two-and-a-half years to bring the bill. The purpose of this act is not to regulate illegal or unauthorized colonies; rather it focuses on registration of plots up to 500 yards in illegal colonies, sources added.

“The move aims to put a complete ban on illegal colonies unlike previous governments which had been encouraging such bad practices,” a Punjab government source said.

During discussion on the bill in the Punjab Assembly, CM Mann had said the legislation “is a major reprieve for the common man as this amendment aims to overcome problems being faced by the public in registration of their plots”.

“It will give a major relief to crores of people who mistakenly invested their hard earned money in the illegal colonies,” said Mann, adding that these innocent people put their money into building their homes but landed in trouble.