Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has approved the bill to eliminate the NOC (No Objection Certificate) requirement for property registrations, ahead of Diwali. This decision is announced by the Punjab government and is expected to benefit the residents of informal colonies as it will grant themthe access to basic amenities. This bill also imposes strict penalties on those who are found guilty of illegal colony development and can fine up to ₹5 crore and prison sentences ranging from five to ten years.
The Punjab Apartment-Property Regulation (Amendment) Act-2024 was unanimously passed in the Punjab Assembly on 3rd September and has now received the Governor’s approval. While this new law will regulate the plots, it clarifies that the unauthorized colonies will not be regularized under this provision.
The government has introduced strict measures to prevent the development of illegal colonies in the future by imposing fines ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹5 crore, along with a minimum of five years imprisonment that is extendable up to ten years. With this law coming into effect, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has expressed that this bill will bring great relief to all the common people across the state. He said that it is a valuable Diwali gift from the government to the public of the state.