Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 29: In what could be termed as contemptuous attitude towards the explicit and repeated directions of the State High Court, the Revenue authorities have yet not furnished the full record relating to the much-publicized Roshni Scam to the State Vigilance Organization despite the fact that non-availability of record will create hurdles in completion of ongoing probe on merits.
The non-compliance of the directions issued to the Deputy Commissioners of six districts by the Division Bench of State High Court first on April 24 and then on May 13 is notwithstanding the fact that startling revelations have come to the fore during the verification by the Special Investigation Teams of the Vigilance Organization into the randomly selected cases.
In a report dated May 23, the Director Vigilance, Sheikh Owais Ahmad has said, “the full requisite records pertaining to the matters under verification have not been received so far from the concerned authorities”, adding “these authorities have been requested to provide the same expeditiously so that the verification by the Special Investigation Teams is concluded on merits and appropriate action as required under law is taken”.
It is pertinent to mention here that while hearing a petition seeking CBI inquiry into the Roshni Scam, the Division Bench had on April 24 directed Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama, Jammu, Samba and Udhampur to furnish the record pertaining to the Roshni Scheme to Special Investigation Teams of Vigilance Organization within a period of two weeks. As there was no compliance, the DB on May 13 reiterated these directions.
According to the Vigilance Organization report, which is based on preliminary investigation into randomly picked up cases in six districts of the State, in a case of district Srinagar, the valuation of land of some of the beneficiaries has been found to be fixed at Rs 48 lakh or Rs 40 lakh per kanal despite the recommendation of Rs 70 lakh and Rs 65 lakh per kanal by Tehsildar Territorial/Tehsildar Nazool Srinagar.
“However, the files don’t contain treasury receipts, vouchers, copy of mutation, details of payment made”, the report said, adding “due to this the actual payments made vis-à-vis the actual cost could not be established so far”. The concerned revenue authorities have been requested to provide the requisite records expeditiously so that a lawful conclusion is arrived at into the matter, the report further said.
In respect of district Pulwama, the report said, “relevant record of 30 cases selected randomly has been obtained. However, for want of complete record only 15 cases could be inspected and spot inspection conducted”, adding “in a particular Khasra No. the total land brought under the vesting of ownership rights is 24 kanals and six marlas thereby exceeding 4 kanals and 4 marlas of land which has been recorded as Ghair Mumkin Nalla in violation of the Roshni Act”.
“The maximum number of applications in the file have not been found diarized/marked on due date by the competent authority and the index/receipt register has not been maintained properly”, the report said while regretting that the concerned authorities have not provided all the files pertaining to the Roshni Scheme so far and the matter has been brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner for providing the requisite records.
As far as Budgam district is concerned, the report said that Photostat copies of 12 randomly selected files were received but the same turned out to be deficient and the concerned department has been requested to provide the additional/requisite records for further verification.
According to another report, so far 700 files have been submitted by the Deputy Commissioner Jammu and the remaining record was being prepared.
However, contrary to the assertion of the Director Vigilance that full record was awaited, the Deputy Commissioner Jammu said, “at no point of time there has been any denial so far as furnishing of record is concerned”.
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