Missing of large number of files from JDA’s Allotment Section
People suffer due to delay in record reconstruction
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 6: Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has completed preliminary verification into the missing of large number of files pertaining to various colonies and commercial complexes of Jammu Development Authority and formal FIR is likely to be registered shortly for detailed investigation. However, due to delay in reconstruction of record of the Allotment Section of the Authority people are suffering immensely.
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Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that Crime Branch has completed preliminary verification into the misplacement of files from the Allotment Section of Jammu Development Authority despite non-cooperation from the concerned authorities.
“The Crime Branch has laid hands on evidences which form cognizable offence as such it has forwarded the findings of the preliminary verification to the higher authorities for formal sanction for registration of FIR, which is likely shortly”, they said, adding “real culprits behind missing of large number of original files will get identified only after in-depth probe following registration of FIR”.
The preliminary verification was started by the Crime Branch Jammu after the Housing and Urban Development Department Vide Letter No. HUD-JDA/43/2023 dated August 31, 2023 requested Special DGP Crime Branch J&K for a detailed investigation into the misplacement of large number of original record/files from the Allotment Section of Jammu Development Authority.
“The allottees of residential and commercial property of JDA, who were having specific information about the matter, also extended assistance to the Crime Branch in the conduct of preliminary verification”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Allotment Section of Jammu Development Authority primarily deals with the allotment cases of residential plots, commercial properties, allotment of land parcels etc as per the prescribed procedure and missing of large number of original files from the repository is a matter of grave concern.
“The files were missing during the past four-five years but those who remained at the helm of affairs in Jammu Development Authority never bothered to get the matter investigated although representations in this regard were received from several allottees of the plots in different JDA colonies”, sources said, adding “for the sake of formality a committee of officers of JDA was constituted by and after being reprimanded for inordinate delay the committee submitted the vague report and without fixing any responsibility and last year the then Vice-Chairman sought the intervention of Housing and Urban Development Department into the matter and accordingly preliminary verification was started by the Crime Branch”.
The committee in its report had mentioned: “Since the time period of missing of the allotment related files could not be established, we are unable to fix the responsibility of the delinquents official/Dealing Assistants as many employees of the JDA have worked as Dealing Assistants in Allotment Section from time to time and some of them have even retired from service”.
Meanwhile, people are suffering due to slow pace of reconstruction of record, which was ordered by the Housing and Urban Development Department vide Order No.14-JK(HUD) of 2023 dated August 31, 2023.
“The committee is supposed to ensure transparency and checks and balances in the exercise of reconstruction of record by taking the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on board with regard to the feasibility and legal validity of the records/files, if reconstructed, and the safeguards that may be incorporated in the procedure to be adopted for carrying out such exercise”, sources said.
The committee is required to ensure that the allotment is genuine, neither cancelled nor irregular or pending investigation before Anti-Corruption Bureau and Crime Branch etc. Moreover, it is supposed to place in the public domain on a periodic basis, the details of the records/files reconstructed for inviting objections and after considering the objections, if any, is required to recommend further processing of such cases.
The committee is comprised of Director, Land Management, Secretary JDA, Financial Advisor/CAO JDA, Secretary, J&K Housing Board, Chief Town Planner, JDA and Assistant Legal Remembrancer Housing and Urban Development Department.
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