47-year-old land dispute resolved in Amritsar

In a major development, the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) will now re-acquire 10.76 acres of prime land in Ranjit Avenue, valued at approximately Rs 500 crore, following a favourable decision from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The land, which is part of a 97-acre segment in the Ranjit Avenue development scheme, had been under legal dispute for over four decades.

Karamjit Singh Rintu, Chairman, Amritsar Improvement Trust, who recently took charge on March 17, appeared before the High Court via video conference and presented detailed legal arguments in support of the Trust. His submission played a key role in the court’s April 8 verdict, which directed the Trust to re-acquire the land within four months, at horticulture land rates.

The origin of the dispute dates back to 1978, when the Trust launched the Ajnala Road scheme covering 537 acres. In 1991, a group of landowners filed a petition to exclude 97 acres, claiming the area was used for horticulture. The High Court formed a committee which identified 10.76 acres as orchard land. In 2001, the court ruled that this portion should remain designated for horticulture, while allowing development on the rest of the land. In 2005, the AIT passed a resolution to exclude the land from the scheme and sent the proposal to the state government, which agreed. The landowners subsequently deposited exemption fees in 2013-14.

In 2016, the landowners sought a Change of Land Use (CLU) through the High Court. The court directed them to approach the Trust, which later referred the matter to the state government. In 2021, the Trust resubmitted the proposal, stating that while the government could permit commercial use of horticultural land, it had to be done within legal limits. In January 2022, the landowners filed a fresh CLU application. However, in September 2022, the Trust rejected the request, reiterating that no change was possible as the area was classified strictly for horticulture. The Punjab Government approved this position in June 2024, instructing that the land be re-acquired in line with court orders.

Despite this, the landowners filed multiple contempt of court petitions in 2025. The High Court, after reviewing the case, issued a final directive on April 8 that the Trust must complete the acquisition process within four months, and at horticulture rate.

The AIT will initiate the land acquisition process shortly and conduct a socio-economic survey to understand the needs of the area. Although the land is in a commercial zone, development will only proceed as per the High Court’s directives. AIT Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu emphasised that after assuming charge, he ensured that the matter was represented thoroughly before the court. He stated that the April 8 order is a major step forward in resolving a case that had been pending for 47 years and reaffirmed the Trust’s commitment to fair, legal and transparent development in the city.

Amritsar