A major policy regarding the freehold of 1,065 acres of excise and leasehold land in Ambala Cantonment has been temporarily put on hold following stiff resistance from senior Haryana Cabinet Minister and local MLA Anil Vij. During a crucial state cabinet meeting, Vij strongly objected to the financial terms of the draft policy, arguing that it would impose an unjust and heavy economic burden on thousands of long-standing families residing in the area. Acknowledging these valid concerns, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini intervened and halted the implementation to review the framework thoroughly.Decades-Old Ownership Dispute and Public DemandsThe core issue involves 1,065 acres of excised, old-grant land in Ambala Cantonment, a property status that has remained tangled in administrative limbo for decades since its transfer from the Cantonment Board to the Municipal Council in 1977. Although thousands of residents possess traditional registrations and live on these properties, legal ownership has remained vested with the authorities, denying residents full freehold rights. Previous attempts to resolve this during past administrations also stalled due to excessively high collector rates and inadequate fee relaxations that would have benefited only a tiny fraction of the population.Chief Minister Directs Comprehensive Revision to Protect Public InterestFollowing Transport Minister Anil Vij's intervention, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed senior officials from the Urban Local Bodies Department and the Chief Minister's Office to sit down with the local MLA for a detailed review. The administration is now re-evaluating the proposed collector rates, penalty structures, and fee determinations to ensure that any future freehold policy provides genuine, widespread relief without triggering public backlash. Minister Vij remains firm on his stance that any development and ownership framework must safeguard the public's financial well-being.
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