Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 9: Establishing that former Revenue Minister, Raman Bhalla is in the possession of State land at village Deeli, the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) has accused the Revenue Department of submitting inconclusive demarcation report and concealing some vital aspects of the case.
In the status report submitted to the High Court in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Prof S K Bhalla Versus State of J&K, Vigilance Organization said, “demarcation of land situated at village Deeli upon which Raman Bhalla, the then Revenue Minister has constructed his palatial residential house has been got conducted by the revenue officials to ascertain whether the residential building in question has been constructed on the land bearing Khasra No.778 and 779 or in Khasra No.781 (State land) as alleged in the complaint”.
“The demarcation report bearing No.TJS/OQ/2015-17/881/1 dated July 10, 2015 has been collected from the office of Tehsildar Jammu (South) and scrutiny of the report has revealed that Raman Bhalla is in possession of land measuring 3 kanal and 14 marlas bearing Khasra No.778, 779 and 781 situated at village Deeli”, the report said.
While land measuring one kanal and 10 marlas bearing Khasra No.778 and 779 has been purchased by Raman Bhalla from Raj Kumar and Rakesh Kumar of Mohalla Partap Garh, Jammu, Indira Bhalla, wife of Raman Bhalla is the owner of land measuring one kanal and 15 marlas bearing Khasra No.779 which has been gifted to her by her mother. However, the land measuring 10 marlas in possession of Raman Bhalla is falling under Khasra No.781 (State land), the report said.
Pointing out several aspects, which have been ignored by the Revenue authorities in the demarcation report, the status report said, “the mode of acquisition of the land by the mother-in-law of Raman Bhalla is also a matter of investigation, which is required to be probed for which Settlement Officer Jammu has been requested to provide the requisite information/report and the same is still awaited”.
Accusing Revenue authorities of submitting inconclusive demarcation report, the status report said, “they have been further directed to clarify their report and the same is awaited”, adding “spot inspection of residential building has also been got conducted by the officials of building section and Khilafwarzi section of Jammu Municipal Corporation to ascertain whether the building in question has been constructed as per the approved plan or otherwise”.
“Building permission has been sanctioned for construction of residential building in Khasra No.778 and 779 for construction of 3060 square feet each at ground floor and first floor with setbacks. However, as per spot inspection report, Raman Bhalla has constructed an area measuring 4964 square feet at ground floor and 4194 square feet at first floor in violation of approved plan. Moreover, no mandatory side setbacks have been maintained”, the report said.
“The evaluation of residential building of Raman Bhalla constructed on the land situated at Deeli is under process”, the status report said.
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