Opposition to challenge legislation in court

LAHORE - Amid Opposition’s boycott, the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday passed the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2008, to enable the Punjab government to create divisions and districts in the province, and appoint commissioners and collectors for discharge of its functions.
Following a prolonged debate between the Treasury and Opposition over the controversial bill, the assembly allowed insertion of five new clauses in the existing Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967, which, in its new form, empowers the Punjab government “to assign such functions and confer such powers upon the commissioners as it deems appropriate”.
Through amendment in section 9 of the Revenue Act of 1967, the provincial government may also appoint an Additional Commissioner and Additional Collector to assist the Commissioner and Collector respectively.
According to an amendment in section 5 of the said Act, Punjab government may, by notification, declare as many districts in the province, with such limits and areas, as it deems appropriate. Similarly, the government may also vary the numbers and limits of a division in the province.
It has been further provided for in the said new clause that a division shall consist of two or more districts, as may be specified by the govt.
After passage of Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) bill 2008, which will become an Act of the assembly after Governor’s assent, the Punjab Land Revenue Ordinance, 2008 has been repealed forthwith.
The Opposition in Punjab assembly, however rejected the bill, pleading that its provisions were not consistent with the Local Govt Ordinance.
The opposition members maintained that a parallel system of commissioners has been put in place vis-a-vis the local governments, which enjoyed constitutional cover till 2009.