Summary
- The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday barred the Punjab government from taking any further action regarding the 11.5-kanal Ewing Hall property owned by Forman Christian College University (FCCU).
- The Punjab government, however, argued that the lease had expired years ago and that the university had failed to pay outstanding dues.
- Justice Arshad observed that if the government wanted to recover unpaid lease rent, it should have first issued a formal notice to the university before taking action.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday barred the Punjab government from taking any further action regarding the 11.5-kanal Ewing Hall property owned by Forman Christian College University (FCCU).
Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad issued the order while hearing a petition filed by the university’s registrar. The court also suspended the Board of Revenue’s decision to cancel the lease and sought a detailed report from the Punjab government before the next hearing.
The dispute centres on Ewing Hall, located in Lahore’s Neela Gumbad area. Earlier this month, alumni and civil society activists criticised the government’s move to repossess the property, saying it threatened an important part of the university’s historical heritage. The Punjab government, however, argued that the lease had expired years ago and that the university had failed to pay outstanding dues.
During the hearing, counsel for FCCU claimed that government authorities forcibly took control of the property on June 11. The lawyer argued that the land had been leased to the college in 1915 and that authorities extended the lease in 2018 until 2048. The petitioner requested the court to restore possession of the land and stop the government from taking further steps until the case is decided.
The Punjab government opposed the petition and questioned its maintainability. The additional advocate general argued that the university had not paid lease charges since 1975, violating the terms of the agreement. He also claimed that the land, originally allocated for educational purposes, was being used commercially.
Justice Arshad observed that if the government wanted to recover unpaid lease rent, it should have first issued a formal notice to the university before taking action.
Earlier, FCC Rector Dr Jonathan Addleton said university officials received a phone call on June 10 informing them that authorities would take over the building the next day and gave them 24 hours to remove equipment, furniture and historical artefacts.
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