Overview
- The division bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor issued an interim stay that bars any transfer or sale of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited properties, including a proposed 50-acre parcel in Patiala’s Badungar village.
- The order followed an urgent application by Senior Advocate Baltej Singh Sidhu and is part of a public interest litigation filed by Rajbir Singh challenging the alienation of PSPCL assets.
- The petition claims PSPCL’s strain stems from unpaid government electricity dues of ₹2,582.24 crore and power subsidy arrears exceeding ₹10,000 crore, with reports placing the combined burden at over ₹12,500 crore.
- The state had planned to move PSPCL land to PUDA under the OUVGL policy on an 80:20 revenue-sharing basis for auction, with more than 50 properties listed to raise nearly ₹2,800 crore; 168 acres at Bathinda were transferred in November 2025.
- Employee unions welcomed the stay, urged the government to clear pending subsidies and departmental bills, and planned protests including a February 28 dharna, while opposition leaders also praised the court’s intervention.