In a significant development, former Punjab power secretary EAS Sarma has strongly criticised the Punjab government's proposed move to sell lands belonging to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to private entities. In an open letter addressed to the state chief secretary, the retired 1965-batch IAS officer termed the decision as "highly imprudent" and a potential violation of statutory requirements.
Legal and Ethical Violations Alleged
Sarma, who retired in 2000, pointed out a critical legal flaw in the proposed sale. He emphasised that most of PSPCL's lands were originally acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 for a 'public purpose'—specifically for a corporation wholly owned and controlled by the government. "If the Punjab government now alienates those lands to private agencies, it would be in gross violation of that statutory requirement, which also indirectly constitutes a breach of the public trust," the letter stated.
The former bureaucrat argued that selling these assets to private parties is ill-advised, as it would essentially transfer valuable public land into the hands of real estate developers who would profit at the state's expense. He also warned that PSPCL itself might require these lands in the future for expanding its power infrastructure and activities, making the sale short-sighted.
Accusations of Mimicking Centre's Policy Under Pressure
In a sharp political critique, Sarma alleged that the Punjab government has embarked on this "futile and counter-productive exercise" merely to mimic the broader land monetisation policy adopted by the NDA government at the Centre. He accused the central government of being on a "senseless, short-sighted spree" of selling national assets under pressure from corporates who provide election funds.
"It is unfortunate that the AAP-ruled Punjab should cave in to pressure from the NDA government at the Centre and yield to pressure from the corporates in the State," Sarma claimed in his letter, drawing a direct link between the state's policy and alleged pressure from the central government and business interests.
Legal Challenge and Political Response
The controversy is not just limited to bureaucratic dissent. The PSPCL land sale move has already been legally challenged. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed against the decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking judicial intervention to stop the process.
On the political front, attempts to get a comment from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) proved inconclusive. Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who also serves as the chief spokesperson for the AAP's Punjab unit, could not be reached for his comments on the allegations made by the former power secretary.
The open letter from a senior retired bureaucrat adds substantial weight to the growing opposition against the land sale. It highlights concerns over the erosion of public assets, the legal sanctity of land acquisition for specific purposes, and the influence of political and corporate pressure on state policy. The matter now awaits further legal scrutiny in the High Court and a formal response from the Punjab government.
