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Lokayukta rejects Revenue Secy’s plea to withdraw land scam report
Delhi Lokayukta dismissed the Delhi Government Revenue Secretary Vijay Deo’s application seeking withdrawal of his report related to unauthorised colonies land scam case from Lokayukta on Friday. The Lokayukta said “no useful purpose would be served by its return” thus paving a way for litigation.
The SDM of Kalkaji had appeared before the Lokayukta and said that if required, the report be summoned through the Chief Secretary of Delhi Government. Justice Manmohan Sarin while declining the plea said, “Needless to mention, Commisioner or Secretary to the Department of Revenue is as much a representative of the Delhi Government as the Chief Secretary. The request for return of the report is accordingly declined.”
The Lokayukta also asked a suitable officer from Department of Urban Development well conversant with the facts to be present on February 1 to assist the forum in the understanding of the record. Justice Sarin said, “The UD Department is also required to confirm that apart from the record produced before the Forum that there are no other records with regard to criteria adopted or decision making process in the grant of Provisional Regularisation Certificates in respect of the unauthorised colonies.”
The report of Secretary Revenue Department was the main reason of reshuffle in the Delhi Cabinet recently. Raj Kumar Chauhan was divested from Urban Development Department. Insiders say the Government is in panic after the report submitted to Lokayukta on December 6 as it is learnt that the report may be used against the Government to dent its damage. The report has exposed the wrongdoings and nexus between land mafia and local leaders to sell Government lands in unauthorised colonies. Delhi Government has directed Secretary Revenue to probe the land scam in four non-existent colonies, reported by The Pioneer.
As reported by The Pioneer on November 11 and November 14, the scam involved inclusion of vast tracts of vacant land, mostly belonging to the Delhi Development Authority, in the maps drawn for regularisation of unauthorised colonies. Of these, two of the colonies — Radha Krishan Vihar (Registration No 1600) and Kotla Mahigram Extension, Jasola, Sarita Vihar (Regd. No. 26 LOP) — do not exist. The third colony, namely Abul Fazal Enclave Part 2 GH Block (Regd No 1182), had been acquired by the DDA and even its possession had been taken by the authority in 2006, while Shakti Enclave near Kilokari do not exist.
Delhi Lokayukta dismissed the Delhi Government Revenue Secretary Vijay Deo’s application seeking withdrawal of his report related to unauthorised colonies land scam case from Lokayukta on Friday. The Lokayukta said “no useful purpose would be served by its return” thus paving a way for litigation.
The SDM of Kalkaji had appeared before the Lokayukta and said that if required, the report be summoned through the Chief Secretary of Delhi Government. Justice Manmohan Sarin while declining the plea said, “Needless to mention, Commisioner or Secretary to the Department of Revenue is as much a representative of the Delhi Government as the Chief Secretary. The request for return of the report is accordingly declined.”
The Lokayukta also asked a suitable officer from Department of Urban Development well conversant with the facts to be present on February 1 to assist the forum in the understanding of the record. Justice Sarin said, “The UD Department is also required to confirm that apart from the record produced before the Forum that there are no other records with regard to criteria adopted or decision making process in the grant of Provisional Regularisation Certificates in respect of the unauthorised colonies.”
The report of Secretary Revenue Department was the main reason of reshuffle in the Delhi Cabinet recently. Raj Kumar Chauhan was divested from Urban Development Department. Insiders say the Government is in panic after the report submitted to Lokayukta on December 6 as it is learnt that the report may be used against the Government to dent its damage. The report has exposed the wrongdoings and nexus between land mafia and local leaders to sell Government lands in unauthorised colonies. Delhi Government has directed Secretary Revenue to probe the land scam in four non-existent colonies, reported by The Pioneer.
As reported by The Pioneer on November 11 and November 14, the scam involved inclusion of vast tracts of vacant land, mostly belonging to the Delhi Development Authority, in the maps drawn for regularisation of unauthorised colonies. Of these, two of the colonies — Radha Krishan Vihar (Registration No 1600) and Kotla Mahigram Extension, Jasola, Sarita Vihar (Regd. No. 26 LOP) — do not exist. The third colony, namely Abul Fazal Enclave Part 2 GH Block (Regd No 1182), had been acquired by the DDA and even its possession had been taken by the authority in 2006, while Shakti Enclave near Kilokari do not exist.
