After SVC probe, J-K govt cancels lease of prime land to trust

Jammu, Jan 20: J-K government has cancelled allotment of 250 kanals of land to a trust on the outskirts of the city here following a probe by State Vigilance Commission (SVC) against the vice-chairman of Jammu Development Authority in connection with alleged malpractices and irregularities in the allotment of land and execution of different works.

"On January 19, 2016, the Special Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Anuradha Wazir, appeared personally before the SVC and submitted a report and also presented a copy of an order issued by the Jammu Development Authority dated January 9, 2016, wherein lease deed with respect to land measuring 250 kanals earlier allotted in favour of Krishna Hiranand Memorial Trust for establishing Hospital and Medical College has been cancelled in pursuance of enquiry conducted," an SVC officer said.

The step was taken by JDA after ascertaining that B D Sharma, President of KHN Memorial Trust, failed to furnish the required proof of being a citizen of India and permanent resident of state of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, read with the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, 1956, in response to a show-cause notice dated December 28, 2015, served upon him by JDA, he said.

As per the provisions of the J-K Land Grant Act, 1960, permanent residency of J-K is sine qua non for grant of land, he said. SVC, on the basis of a complaint lodged by Prof SK Bhalla against the Vice-Chairman of JDA for various malpractices and gross irregularities committed in the allotment of land, execution of different works and in other allied matters, took cognisance of the matter and asked for enquiry and report from the Commissioner Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, in light of the allegations levelled.

The report prima facie revealed series of misdeeds committed by JDA, particularly in the allotment of prime land measuring 250 kanals to KHN Trust for establishment of Medical College and Hospital sans approval of the government and in violation of existing rules and norms, he said.

The officer further said that in addition, the enquiry report divulged many baffling facts and many missing links for which no satisfactory explanations were made available.

Accordingly, the Commission summoned the Special Secretary to the Housing and Urban Development Department to explain the report, he said. Wazir appeared personally before the Commission and sought time for getting all details to submit a detailed report.

The time was granted with the direction that the requisite report be submitted personally on the next date of hearing, he said. Wazir appeared personally before the Commission and submitted the report in which it was said that lease of 250 kanals of prime land to KHN Trust has been cancelled.

PTI