Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 7: Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has cancelled the lease deed of 283 kanals of prime land, which was allotted to Shree Yog Vedhant Sewa Samiti of self-styled godman Asa Ram Bapu several years back. Now, this huge chunk of land would be utilized for development of new housing colony and land retrieval process is all set to be started shortly.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that the allotment of 283 kanals of land falling in Khasra No. 288 in favour of Shree Yog Vedhant Sewa Samiti of Asa Ram Bapu was approved by the Board of Directors of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in its 64th meeting on a premium of Rs 50,000 per kanal.
As per the decision of Board of Directors, the Letter of Intent was issued in the favour of President, Shree Yog Vedhant Sewa Samiti vide No. JDA/LS/SYVSS/535-37 dated May 28, 2005 and the lease deed in respect of allotted land was executed and registered in the court of law on February 16, 2008.
In the Trust Deed furnished by the Samiti, Sant Asa Ram Bapu, resident of Sabarmati, Ahmedabad was shown as Chairman while as Maharaj Suresha Ananda, follower of Asa Ram Bapu, also a resident of Ahmedabad, Ajay Kumar Shah, son of Ram Lal Shah of Ahmedabad, Mohan Lal Gupta, son of Gorimal of Trikuta Nagar and V P Dubey, son of Ishwar Dass of Gandhi Nagar were shown as Trustees.
In the recent past when the lease document was being studied in the light of controversy involving Asa Ram Bapu, it was noticed that three of the trustees are non-State subjects. Accordingly, the lease deed was furnished to the Law Department for its opinion.
After thorough study of the lease deed, the Law Department opined: “the decision of the Jammu Development Authority to lease out 283 kanals of land to Bapu Asa Ram Ashram is in violation of the laws in vogue in the State. The Authority is as such communicated to cancel the lease immediately and take up the matter with the Government”.
“From the opinion of the Law Department, it became amply clear that at the time of allotment in favour of the Trust, the three trustees were non-State subjects and the initial allotment made in favour of the Trust is in contravention of the law in vogue in the State”, sources said.
The Trust even constructed 30 flats without obtaining permission for the same from the competent authority, which is violation of terms and conditions of the lease deed. “Clause 3 of the lease deed states that the land shall be used solely and exclusively for the purpose of construction of Bapu Asa Ram Ashram and for no other purpose. The lessee shall erect thereon the building according to the plan and elevation approved by the lesser within a period of four years from the date of execution of lease deed failing which the lease will be determinable at the auction of the lesser, who may even impose appropriate penalty”.
It was also noticed that Trust had also encroached upon adjoining JDA land and the same was later retrieved from the unauthorized possession of the Trust.
“Keeping in view the opinion given by the Law Department, the JDA has cancelled the lease deed and confirmation of Board of Directors will be taken at later stage”, sources said, adding “the land retrieval process will begin as JDA has decided to use the land for the development of new housing colony”.
“Vice-Chairperson of the JDA has all the powers to cancel the lease deed in case of violation of its any clause. Moreover, the lease deed was executed by the Vice-Chairperson”, they said in response to a question.
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