Chandigarh, July 30 -- The Punjab government's land pooling policy, aimed at acquiring nearly 65,000 acres across the state for residential and industrial development, has been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana high court.

A petition by social activists Naveender PK Singh and Samita Kaur was taken up by the bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry. However, the hearing was deferred as petitioners sought permission to amend the plea.

The PIL seeks quashing of the recent notification of the state government issued on July 4 and subsequent changes made, whereby land pooling policy has been notified for acquisition and urbanization of multi-crop irrigated agricultural lands in over 50 villages (24,311 acres of area) in ...