Chandigarh : Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij held an extensive meeting with BJP workers at Aggarwal Dharamshala, Ambala Cantonment, to discuss the proposed Freehold Policy for Ambala Cantonment, assuring residents that he would safeguard their interests and oppose any provisions that adversely affect them.
Addressing the gathering, Vij said the meeting was aimed at informing people about the policy and its implications through party workers. He reiterated that the demand for granting freehold status to properties in Ambala Cantonment has been pending for decades and dates back to the tenure of former MLA Devender Bansal.
Historical Background of the Freehold Issue
Vij explained that the issue relates specifically to the Sadar area of Ambala Cantonment, which remained under the Cantonment Board until February 5, 1977. He said that when Bansi Lal was the Union Defence Minister, 1,063 acres of land were transferred from the Cantonment Board to establish a Municipal Committee, subject to the Haryana Government providing 150 acres of land free of cost to the Army.
According to Vij, although the agreement was signed in 1977, no government acted on the condition until 2000, when Bansi Lal became Chief Minister. Vij claimed he personally persuaded the government to fulfil the commitment, enabling the transfer of Government of India land to the Haryana Government.
Why Residents Faced Problems
The minister said residents later encountered difficulties in property registration, building plan approvals, property partition and obtaining bank loans because the land legally remained government-owned.
He noted that while property registrations were initially carried out without difficulty, later only the structure—not the land—could be registered, leading banks to refuse loans against such properties. Vij cited a case in which a bank was unable to recover a loan because the government claimed ownership of the land, prompting stricter registration practices.
‘I Stopped the Policy from Being Approved’
Anil Vij claimed that the proposed Freehold Policy was introduced before the State Cabinet without prior consultation with him, despite his long association with Ambala Cantonment.
He said he objected during the Cabinet meeting, arguing that no policy concerning Ambala Cantonment should be finalised without consulting its elected representative and understanding the concerns of local residents.
According to Vij, despite pressure from senior officials, he insisted that the proposal be deferred and requested the Chief Minister to convene a separate meeting with all concerned officials before taking a final decision.
He claimed that because of his intervention, the Cabinet did not approve the policy in its current form.
Vij Raises Concerns Over Draft Policy
The minister said he later examined the draft with legal experts and identified several provisions that, in his view, could create serious hardship for residents.
According to Vij:
- Property owners would have to register land at the prevailing collector rate.
- For example, a 1,000-square-yard property valued at ₹60,000 per square yard would require a payment of ₹6 crore for registration.
- Applicants would have to produce original ownership documents, some dating back nearly 150 years, which he described as impractical.
- Applicants would be required to deposit 25% of the amount at the time of application, with the balance payable within one year.
- Failure to comply could result in property sealing, eviction, government possession, or disposal of the property.
- Those failing to apply for freehold status within the prescribed period could also face sealing of their properties and payment of market-rate rent, besides other legal consequences.
‘I Will Stand with the People, Not the Government’
Vij said he hopes discussions with the government will result in the removal of the policy’s objectionable provisions.
However, if concerns remain unresolved, he outlined three possible courses of action: seeking corrections through dialogue, challenging the policy in court through a citizens’ committee, or launching a democratic public movement.
“If the people of Ambala Cantonment have to fight for their legitimate rights, I will stand with the people, not with the government. We will protest together and pursue every democratic course available,” Vij said.
He urged residents to remain united, stressing that the issue concerns the entire Ambala Cantonment and expressing confidence that the shortcomings in the proposed policy would ultimately be addressed.