{
  "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1",
  "id": "punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7",
  "title": "PUNJAB ENFORCEMENT OF WOMEN'S PROPERTY RIGHTS ACT 2021",
  "source_collection": "Punjab",
  "content_kind": "stored_law_text",
  "content_extent": null,
  "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/VWVVYwI3UWhXPg--",
  "version": null,
  "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:54:55Z",
  "legal_status": "not independently verified",
  "text_quality": "Complete stored UTF-8 TXT file recovered byte-for-byte from owned Drive. Source transcription retained verbatim; legal completeness, OCR accuracy and current consolidation unverified.",
  "text_sha256": "b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db",
  "source_sha256": "b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db",
  "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7:sha256:b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db",
  "quality_flags": [],
  "encoding": "UTF-8",
  "text": "THE PUNJAB ENFORCEMENT OF WOMEN'S PROPERTY \r\nRIGHTS ACT 2021 \r\n(X of 2021) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Powers of the Ombudsperson \r\n4. Complaint to the Ombudsperson in case no proceedings in a court of \r\n law are pending \r\n5. Delivery of possession and transfer of ownership of property to women \r\n6. Reference to court \r\n7. Complaint to the Ombudsperson in case proceedings in a court of law \r\n are pending \r\n8. Loss of rent \r\n9. Execution of orders \r\n10. Appointment of officers, etc \r\n11. Bar of Jurisdiction \r\n12. Power to make rules \r\n13. Repeal  \r\n  \r\n \r\n \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE PUNJAB ENFORCEMENT OF WOMEN'S PROPERTY RIGHTS  \r\nACT 2021 \r\n(X of 2021) \r\n    [17 May 2021] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto protect and secure the rights of ownership of women in the property. \r\nIt is expedient to provide for protection of rights of ownership and possession of \r\nproperties owned by women, ensuring that such rights are not violated by means of \r\nharassment, coercion, force or fraud. \r\nBe it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:  \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement .‎–‎ (1) This Act may be cited as the \r\nPunjab Enforcement of Women's Property Rights Act 2021. \r\n(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. \r\n(3) It shall come into force at once. \r\n2. Definitions.‎–‎ In this Act: \r\n(a) “complainant” means a woman who files a complaint or for whom \r\nproceedings are initiated in respect of the title or possession of her \r\nproperty; \r\n(b) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; \r\n(c) “Ombudsperson” means the Ombudsperson appointed under section 7 \r\nof the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, \r\n2010 (IV of 2010); \r\n(d) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules; \r\n(e) “property” includes any moveable and immoveable property; and \r\n(f) “rules” means the rules made under this Act. \r\n3. Powers of the Ombudsperson . –  In addition to the powers, functions and \r\nauthority under this Act and the rules, the Ombudsperson, for the purpose of this Act, \r\nshall have the same powers, functions and authority as are vested in the \r\nOmbudsperson under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the \r\nWorkplace Act, 2010 (IV of 2010). \r\n4. Complaint to the Ombudsperson in case no proceedings in a court of \r\nlaw are pending . –  (1) Any woman deprived of owners hip or possession of her \r\nproperty, by any means, may file a complaint to the Ombudsperson if no \r\nproceedings in a court of law are pending regarding that property: \r\n Provided that the Ombudsperson, on its own motion or on a complaint filed by \r\nany person including a non-governmental organization, may also initiate action under \r\nsubsection (1) in relation to the ownership or possession of a woman's property, if no \r\nproceedings are pending in a court in respect of that property. \r\n                                                      \r\n1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 17 May 2021; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 17 \r\nMay 2021; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 17 May 2021, pp.9203-9205. \r\n \r\n \r\n(2) The Ombudsperson shall make pre liminary assessment of the \r\ncomplaint filed under subsection (1) whereafter he may, if the matter requires further \r\nprobe or investigation, refer the matter to the concerned Deputy Commissioner, who, \r\nafter calling the record, if necessary, and issuing notice s to the complainant or her \r\nadversaries, conduct a summary enquiry and submit a report within fifteen days to \r\nthe Ombudsperson. \r\n(3)  If the matter does not require any detailed probe, investigation or \r\nrecording of evidence, the Ombudsperson may, after call ing any record, if deemed \r\nnecessary, pass orders under section 5. \r\n(4) The Ombudsperson upon receiving the report under subsection (2), \r\nmay further conduct such summary enquiry and call for such record as he may deem \r\nfit. \r\n(5)  The Ombudsperson after confron ting the report of the concerned \r\nDeputy Commissioner and the conclusion and findings of his own enquiry, shall call \r\nupon the complainant and her adversaries to submit objections, whereafter he may \r\nconduct a hearing, and pass orders under section 5, prefera bly within sixty days of \r\nreceipt of the complaint under subsection (1). \r\n5. Delivery of possession and transfer of ownership of property to \r\nwomen. –  (1) On conclusion of the proceedings under section 4, if the \r\nOmbudsperson finds that the complainant has be en illegally deprived of ownership \r\nor possession of her property, he shall direct the Deputy Commissioner or a state \r\nfunctionary or any private person to take steps so as to restore or confer possession \r\nor title of the property to the complainant, including measures to perfect such title. \r\n(2) The Ombudsperson may, where deemed fit, direct the officer -in-charge \r\nof a police station for such assistance as may be required for the purposes of \r\nimplementing the orders passed under subsection (1). \r\n(3) The concerned Deputy Commissioner shall submit a compliance report \r\nwithin seven days to the Ombudsperson in respect of implementation of his orders. \r\n6. Reference to court . –  (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 4 \r\nand 5, if upon preliminary assessment, or  upon receiving the report of the Deputy \r\nCommissioner or upon conducting further summary enquiries by the Ombudsperson \r\nhimself, he comes to the conclusion that matter requires in -depth enquiry, \r\ninvestigation or detailed recording of evidence or intricate a djudication, he shall \r\nformulate a reference along with all the reports and material collected and submit the \r\nsame to the concerned Civil Court preferably within sixty days of receipt of the \r\ncomplaint under subsection (1) of section 4. \r\n (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, the Civil Court \r\nshall entertain the reference under subsection (1), as a civil suit and proceed further \r\nin terms of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908  (V of 1908) and the relevant rules. \r\n7. Complaint to the Ombudsperson  in case proceedings in a court of law \r\nare pending. –  (1) Where proceedings in a court of law are pending in relation to the \r\nownership or possession of any property claimed to be owned by a woman, she may \r\nfile a complaint under this subsection to the Ombudsperson: \r\n Provided that the Ombudsperson, on its own motion or on a complaint filed by \r\nany person including a non -governmental organization may also initiate action under \r\nsubsection (1) in relation to the ownership or possession of a woman’s property, \r\neven if proceedings are pending in a court in respect of that property. \r\n \r\n \r\n(2) The Ombudsperson shall make a preliminary assessment of the \r\ncomplaint under subsection (1), whereafter he may, if the matter requires further \r\nprobe or investigation, refer the matter to the concerned Deputy Commissioner, who, \r\nafter calling the record, if necessary, and issuing notices to the complainant or her \r\nadversaries, conduct a summary enquiry and submit a report within fifteen days to \r\nthe Ombudsperson. \r\n(3) If the matter does not require any detailed probe, investigation or \r\nrecording of evidence, the Ombudsperson may, after calling any record, if deemed \r\nnecessary, file a report in the court of law, in which the case is pending, \r\nrecommending that the proceedings in the court may be terminated or put in \r\nabeyance unconditionally or subject to any order of the court, and the \r\nOmbudsperson be permitted by the court to take further proceedings under this Act. \r\n(4) Before filing of the report under subsection (3), the Ombudsperson \r\nshall call  upon the complainant and her adversaries to submit objections, and \r\nconduct a hearing and pass orders, preferably within thirty days of the hearing, as to \r\nwhether the Ombudsperson shall or shall not file a report under subsection (3). \r\n(5) In case the Ombudsperson passes an order of not filing a report under \r\nsubsection (3), he may advise the complainant to pursue the proceedings in the \r\ncourt of law and terminate the complaint. \r\n(6) The Ombudsperson upon receiving the report under subsection (2), \r\nmay further conduct such summary inquiry and call for such record as he may deem \r\nfit. \r\n8. Loss of rent . –  On culmination of proceedings under section 5, the \r\nOmbudsperson may also direct the complainant to be paid by the person depriving \r\nthe said complainant of the use of the property, the amount equivalent to the rent \r\nthat the property would fetch at the prevalent market rate, for the duration for which \r\nthe complainant was deprived of the use of such property. \r\n9. Execution of orders . –  The Ombudsperson may direct any e xecutive state \r\nfunctionary including the relevant Deputy Commissioner where the property of the \r\nComplainant is situated, to execute the orders in letter and spirit. \r\n10. Appointment of officers, etc . –  For carrying out the objects and purposes of \r\nthis Act, the Government shall appoint such officers as may be required, on such \r\nterms and conditions as may be prescribed. \r\n11. Bar of Jurisdiction. –  No court or other authority shall have jurisdiction: \r\n(a)  to question the validity of any action taken, order made or anything \r\npurported to have been done under this Act; or \r\n(b) to grant an injunction or stay or to make any interim order in relation to \r\nany proceeding before, or anything done or intended to be don e or \r\npurporting to have been done by, or under the orders or at the instance \r\nof the Ombudsperson. \r\n12. Power to make rules . –  The Government may make rules to carry out the \r\npurposes of this Act. \r\n13. Repeal.– The Punjab Enforcement of Women's Property Rights Ordinance \r\n2021 (IX of 2021) is hereby repealed.",
  "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive",
  "passages": [
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7:sha256:b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db:chars-0-1750:9ddb835b3efba6cd2fdb71a2f84b9ee25f2034ade44ec652c7780ca170496be9",
      "character_start": 0,
      "character_end": 1750,
      "utf8_byte_start": 0,
      "utf8_byte_end": 1778,
      "passage_sha256": "9ddb835b3efba6cd2fdb71a2f84b9ee25f2034ade44ec652c7780ca170496be9",
      "reader_fragment": "p-0-1750-9ddb835b3efba6cd"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7:sha256:b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db:chars-1750-3538:92365b56bd653247defdbd16c0e63e385822036bf9fa092bc4eca8abcb3acb76",
      "character_start": 1750,
      "character_end": 3538,
      "utf8_byte_start": 1778,
      "utf8_byte_end": 3578,
      "passage_sha256": "92365b56bd653247defdbd16c0e63e385822036bf9fa092bc4eca8abcb3acb76",
      "reader_fragment": "p-1750-3538-92365b56bd653247"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7:sha256:b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db:chars-3538-5318:15fca5be703bed7557562f213c20177dba376ddb3b7130ac9d37d7cf65c79a5d",
      "character_start": 3538,
      "character_end": 5318,
      "utf8_byte_start": 3578,
      "utf8_byte_end": 5362,
      "passage_sha256": "15fca5be703bed7557562f213c20177dba376ddb3b7130ac9d37d7cf65c79a5d",
      "reader_fragment": "p-3538-5318-15fca5be703bed75"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7:sha256:b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db:chars-5318-7098:35aa7845c0942850098fbad4eda66e23894d7fcb7cd720440102c8caacc7d40b",
      "character_start": 5318,
      "character_end": 7098,
      "utf8_byte_start": 5362,
      "utf8_byte_end": 7146,
      "passage_sha256": "35aa7845c0942850098fbad4eda66e23894d7fcb7cd720440102c8caacc7d40b",
      "reader_fragment": "p-5318-7098-35aa7845c0942850"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7:sha256:b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db:chars-7098-8878:12914b306fd6e4959f31a76881dc60a26242d63a1ae9f8fd5cca1d6589f0eb0a",
      "character_start": 7098,
      "character_end": 8878,
      "utf8_byte_start": 7146,
      "utf8_byte_end": 8930,
      "passage_sha256": "12914b306fd6e4959f31a76881dc60a26242d63a1ae9f8fd5cca1d6589f0eb0a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-7098-8878-12914b306fd6e495"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-c65f171cb58f01f7:sha256:b30be4a13c58e11d7ab9ecbfc44ee22ac5945d78fb2cfee07b45381e19de77db:chars-8878-9760:845544fc7972644ba75e7dd5075ce0050ece8c4e557ef6abb6093bed84bdfb55",
      "character_start": 8878,
      "character_end": 9760,
      "utf8_byte_start": 8930,
      "utf8_byte_end": 9820,
      "passage_sha256": "845544fc7972644ba75e7dd5075ce0050ece8c4e557ef6abb6093bed84bdfb55",
      "reader_fragment": "p-8878-9760-845544fc7972644b"
    }
  ]
}