Complaint to the Punjab Property Tribunal
You are the lawful owner of property in Punjab, and someone got or keeps it without lawful authority, or by fraud, forgery or force, or you fear they will.
Punjab only. 9 steps, 8 confirmed against the text.
What this route rules out
- Only the lawful owner can file, and you must show evidence of your title.
- If the tribunal finds your complaint false, frivolous or vexatious, you face one to five years in jail and a fine of up to five hundred thousand rupees.
The steps
You
Check your facts fit: someone got or keeps your property without lawful authority, or through fraud, forgery, force or other illegal means.
s4, Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
obtains or retains possession of any immovable property without lawful authority or lawful means or through fraud, deceit, cheating, dishonesty, forgery, misrepresentation, intimidation, force, coercion or any other illegal means, shall be guilty of an offence
Punjab Property Tribunal
Find out whether the tribunal has been set up for your district.
UNCONFIRMEDThe Act lets the government set up a tribunal for each district by notice in the official Gazette. We have not seen that notice. Check the Punjab government or Lahore High Court website, or ask a lawyer.
s11(1), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, constitute the Punjab Property Tribunal for each district in the Punjab under the Act
Punjab Property Tribunal
If you fear someone is about to take your property, you can ask the tribunal for preventive measures.
s9(1), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
In case, a lawful owner of an immovable property apprehends commission of an offence under the Act, he may file application before the Tribunal, having territorial jurisdiction over the area in which the immovable property is situated, for taking preventive measures.
Punjab Property Tribunal
As the lawful owner, file a complaint with the tribunal for the district where the property is.
Papers to take
Papers: s7(2), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
The complaint shall include: (a) sufficient particulars to identify the immovable property; (b) material facts alleged to constitute an offence under the Act; (c) evidence of lawful title or lawful ownership, as the case may be; and (d) particulars of the alleged accused, so far as known to the complainant.
Step: s7(1), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
A complaint for an offence under the Act may be filed by the lawful owner of the immovable property before the Tribunal constituted under section 11 having territorial jurisdiction over the area in which the immovable property is situated.
Committee
Within three days the tribunal sends your complaint to a Committee, which looks into it, tries to settle it, and reports within thirty days.
- Time
Sent to the Committee within 3 days; report within 30 days.
s7(3), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
Within three days of the receipt of a complaint, the Tribunal shall refer it to the Committee for probe, scrutiny and encouraging and facilitating an amicable resolution thereof and submission of its report within thirty days of referral thereto.
Within three days of the receipt of a complaint ... submission of its report within thirty days of referral thereto
Committee
Appear before the Committee in person. If you cannot, ask in writing to appear by electronic means, with biometric verification.
s8(6), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
The parties shall appear before the Committee in person: Provided that if a party is unable to appear in person, the Committee may, on the written request of such party, allow appearance through electronic means subject to his biometric verification.
Punjab Property Tribunal
The tribunal hears the case day to day and must decide within thirty days of getting the Committee's report.
- Time
Decision within 30 days of the report.
s16(6), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
Every case shall be proceeded on a day-to-day basis and decided by the Tribunal within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of report by the Tribunal
decided by the Tribunal within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of report
Lahore High Court
Either side can appeal to the Lahore High Court within thirty days of the judgment.
- Time
30 days to appeal.
s19(1), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
may, within thirty days of the date of such judgment or decree, prefer an appeal to the Lahore High Court
within thirty days of the date of such judgment or decree
You
Make sure your complaint is true. A false, frivolous or vexatious complaint can bring one to five years in jail and a fine.
s16(3), Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025, read .
The text says
if the complaint is found false, frivolous or vexatious by the tribunal, the complainant shall be liable to be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years but not less than one year and fine which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees