Punjab Land Alienation Act 1900

One of the most important events that had a greater impact on the people was the Punjab Land Alienation Act of 1900.

• By this act, there was a 15 years limitation was placed on all land purchases and mortgages.
• Thus this bill cancelled the Zamindar’s right to sell or mortgage a land.
• The basic objective of this bill was to impose a check on the alienation of land from Agriculture to nonagricultural class, thus discouraging the moneylenders.

  The idea was to protect the Zamindars. These Zamindars borrowed money from the Money Landers and then either sold or mortgaged their lands. This also stopped the Urban Professionals and traders to enter into any kind of land transaction with the peasants.

  The peasants were on the brink of the agitation due to economic oppression and the Government wanted to give some “relief” to them.

  The Bill was opposed by the Indian Leaders and the Press. They said that this bill has nothing serious measures to ameliorate the socio-economic conditions of the peasantry.

• The Indian National Congress passed a resolution against this act in 1899 Lucknow Session.

  This act made the moneylenders, shopkeepers, professionals and the trader class against the Government. The act was called as an intrusion to private property and the moneylenders thought that they shall be made the scapegoat. This was a point when the trader class of Punjab (Including Punjab in Pakistan) to come close to Congress.