LHC voids Dispute Resolution Committees’ decisions, transfers 1,500+ property cases to tribunals

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday set aside all decisions issued by Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) in cases concerning alleged illegal occupations under the Punjab Property Ownership Law and ordered the transfer of more than 1,500 pending petitions to designated tribunals for fresh adjudication.

As per media reports, the order was passed by a three-member full bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelam, with Justice Jawad Zafar and Justice Abher Gul Khan as members.

During the hearing, the Advocate General Punjab informed the court that significant amendments had been introduced to the Punjab Property Ownership Law through a recently promulgated ordinance while the petitions were under consideration.

According to the revised framework, judicial powers have been withdrawn from DRCs and transferred to specialised tribunals. The amended law introduces a biometric system for filing complaints and shifts authority from executive bodies to judicial forums. Serving Additional Sessions Judges will now head the tribunals instead of retired judges, and the tribunals are required to decide cases within 30 days.

The court was told that if a matter is already pending before any court, the complainant may request its transfer to a tribunal. The concerned court will examine the record before deciding whether to allow such transfer.

It was further clarified that parties dissatisfied with tribunal decisions may seek remedies before constitutional courts, including the High Court or the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The chief justice observed that the law had undergone substantive changes and noted that petitions challenging its constitutionality would be heard separately at a later stage.

The bench declared all actions and decisions taken by DRCs void and directed that pending cases be heard afresh by the tribunals in accordance with the amended ordinance and applicable law.