HC asks Bihar gov how Jha was allotted so many plots of land

Patna, Nov 16 (UNI) Patna High Court today directed the state government to explain how noted film producer and director Prakash Jha was allotted several plots of land in different districts of the state while he had applied for the same in Patna district only.

Hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by state Congress chief spokesman Prem Chandra Mishra, a division bench of the court, comprising Justices Aftab Alam and Rekha Kumari, asked the Bihar government to state its position after detection of contradictions in the affidavits filed by the state government and Mr Jha in this connection.

In his affidavit, Mr Jha informed that he had applied for allotment of land in Patliputra Industrial Development Area in the state capital.

Earlier, the state government maintained that lands were allotted to Mr Jha as per the rules and regulations and no irregularities were committed.

Appearing for the state, Advocate General P K Shahi said that rates were fixed for different categories of land in industrial development areas of various districts and tenders were not required to be floated for allotment of land to the applicants. He said that besides Mr Jha, other persons were also allotted land, but the petitioner were targetting the film producer due to political reasons.

The state government failed to reply when the Court asked how Mr Jha was allotted land in different districts while he had applied for the same in Patna alone.

The state government had earlier allotted lands to Mr Jha in Patna, Vaisahali, West Champaran and other districts for installation of shopping malls.

Through a PIL petition, Mr Mishra had challenged the allotment alleging violation of rules and regulations as no tender was floated in this connection.

The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for November 20.

UNI XC KK VD RK1735