Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 13: A well-knit nexus between officials of Revenue Department and mafia has surfaced in Jammu with former Divisional Commissioner Jammu revealing that huge chunk of prime State land has been put to sale by reflecting it as private land in the revenue papers. He has recommended detailed investigation into tampering of the record for initiating stern action under law against the erring officials.
The issue of encroachment of State land at village Chatha-Sunjwan in the outskirts of Jammu city actually came to the notice of Government in the year 2008 and accordingly the Government Vide Order No.05-GAD of 2008 appointed the then Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sudhanshu Pandey as Inquiry Officer.
Mr Pandey then constituted committees of officers to identify and demarcate the land belonging to Jammu Development Authority, Forest Department and State coming under the proposed colony of M/s SRK Associates and to demarcate land measuring 20 kanals and 12 marlas falling under Khasra No.1442 of village Chatha-Sunjwan. Both the committees submitted their demarcation reports.
Thereafter, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the State High Court seeking outcome of the enquiry conducted by the then Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sudhanshu Pandey.
Accordingly, on the intervention of State High Court, Government Vide Order No.1083-GAD dated October 20, 2014 appointed the then Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu (presently Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education) as Inquiry Officer to conduct the enquiry into the matter.
From the perusal of available revenue record, reports of earlier committees and spot position of the land, it has been observed by the Inquiry Officer that Khasra Nos 1445, 1447, 1452 and 835 of village Chatha-Sunjwan transferred to Jammu Development Authority are presently in possession of JDA and are intact, the report said, adding “as far as Khasra No.1442 (20 kanals and one marla) is concerned, it is recorded as State land in Record of Rights of 1979-80 and also under Khewat No.85 min and Khata No.636 min of Jamabandi 1998-99 Bikarmi”.
“But in the same Jamabandi 1998-99 Bikarmi, Khasra No.1442 has also been inserted in Khewat No.19 min and Khata No.406 min in the ownership of Bachitter Singh and Others”, the report said, adding “Khasra No.1442, which is actually a State land, has not been transferred in accordance with the rules. Inspite of being State land, it has been put to sale”.
“It appears that the transfer of State land has been done by way of prima-facie tampering with the record and laterally inserting under the category of private land”, the report said, adding first Fard of the land falling under Khasra No.1442 has been prepared and issued in the year 2004 for 13 kanals and 12 marlas and the second Fard of the land falling under same Khasra Number has been prepared and issued in the year 2005 for seven kanals by the then Patwari and Naib Tehsildar concerned.
After that mutations No.225-J and 312-J of the same have been attested on March 18, 2005 and September 26, 2005 respectively by the then Naib Tehsildar. “As far as matter of consolidation of four patches of JDA land falling under Khasra Nos. 835, 1445, 1447 and 1452 is concerned, all the three patches are intact. Now, the SRK Associates has moved an application that they are willing to consolidate one kanal of land”, the report said.
“Vice-Chairman of JDA has reported that sanction in favour of SRK Associates was accorded only for layout plan. Further it has been submitted that the consolidation can only be affected on record/ground by an order of the competent authority on a proposal to which both the stake holders consented first”, the report said.
“Since it appears prima-facie that tampering of land under Khasra No.1442 has been done in revenue record, a detailed investigation for specific issue of tampering of revenue record—Jamabandi for the year 1998-99 Bikrami of village Sunjwan is required”, the Inquiry Officer said in the report, adding “Deputy Commissioner Jammu has forwarded the names of revenue officers/officials worked in the area during the period under consideration. However, persons responsible for insertion/ tampering can only be ascertained after proper investigation”.
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