CM orders three more inquiries

Shimla, May 21
Even as Chief Minister PK Dhumal has said today that he will be personally meeting Chief Justice Kurian Joseph to press for a probe into all benami land deals by a sitting judge of the High Court, the public response to his appeal seems to be yielding results as within the past one week 10 complaints of such illegal land deals have been sent to him by common people.
Besides the earlier probe ordered into a land deal in Manali, the Chief Minister has ordered three more inquiries into such illegal deals at Batta Kufar in Shimla, Poanta Sahib in Sirmaur and one in Palampur, while in about six other cases verification is being done before ordering an inquiry.
Ever since Dhumal last week urged the public to come forward with details of all such shady land deals or violation of Section 118, his office is receiving almost three-four complaints daily.
In the three fresh inquiries, the Principal Secretary (Revenue), the Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner concerned have been asked to hold detailed inquiry and report back to the CM office. While in the case of Poanta Sahib they have been asked to submit a detailed inquiry report by May 27 and in the Batta Kufar case in Shimla, directions have been issued to inquire and take action by May 31.
“I have already ordered a probe into the case of land purchase in Manali by a person from Punjab by securing a fraudulent agriculturist certificate, while in the three other cases from Poanta Sahib, Shimla and Palampur, inquiries were ordered today,” Dhumal said.
In complaints where proper revenue records and the proof of violation are attached, inquiries have been ordered straight away, while in other cases details from the department are being sought before ordering probe.
Reiterating his commitment to ensure a fair probe into all such benami land deals, which are in violation of Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act, he said he was still keen on a probe by a sitting judge of the high court. “The high court has expressed its inability to spare a judge for probing these cases, but I will still take up the issue with the Chief Justice personally or else go with the only option of having a retired judge to probe it,” he added.
Reacting to demand by Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Kaul Singh Thakur, Dhumal said it was simply not possible to fix a time frame for the inquiry. “It is surprising that while the HPCC chief has welcomed the move, Union Minister Virbhadra Singh rejected it though his own party MLAs had demanded it,” he said taking a dig at the contradictions within the Congress over the issue.

The cases

n Sudesh Kumar, non-Himachali, had constructed a house at Mohal Lohna in Bandla Palampur without obtaining permission
n Raman Sharma of Rohini, Delhi, had purchased orchard land near Navbahar in Shimla in violation of Section 118 as he was an outsider
n Charanjit Singh of Badripur in Poanta Sahib had bought and sold land for `5 crore, but paid less stamp duty as registration