Patiala: The Punjab and Haryana high court extended its interim stay on the proposed alienation of properties belonging to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and directed the Punjab govt to file a detailed para-wise reply to a petition challenging the move. The matter was listed for hearing on March 13.The order came on a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenged the alienation of PSPCL assets when substantial govt dues to the power utility remained unpaid.The PIL, filed in January this year by Rajbir Singh, said PSPCL faced severe financial stress due to unpaid electricity dues of about Rs 2,582 crore from various state govt depts and subsidy arrears exceeding Rs 10,000 crore. The petitioner argued that selling or transferring public assets in such circumstances was unjustified and detrimental to the corporation’s long-term financial health.At the centre of the controversy was a proposal to transfer nearly 50 acres of PSPCL land in Badungar village, Patiala, to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) under the Optimum Use of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) scheme for auction and development.Petitioner Rajbir Singh, said, “The court on Friday asked the state govt to file a para-wise reply on the matter related to PIL. The interim stay over the sale or transfer of properties has been extended till further hearing scheduled for March 13.”During hearings held a week ago, a division bench of the high court passed an interim order restraining any sale or transfer of PSPCL properties until further directions. The interim protection was granted amid concerns raised in the petition and protests by sections of power sector employees.At a subsequent hearing on Friday, the bench declined to vacate the stay and reportedly rejected preliminary objections regarding the maintainability of the PIL. The court observed that the matter involved significant public interest, particularly as PSPCL assets constitute public property held in trust.Referring to the preliminary objection, the bench clarified that the question of maintainability would remain open for the State to argue at subsequent hearings and asked the state to file a detailed para-wise reply, while ordering that the interim protection against alienation of PSPCL properties would continue.The state was directed to file a comprehensive para-wise reply, supported by relevant documents, clarifying PSPCL’s financial position and the rationale behind the proposed land transfer.
