Illegal allotment of shops/halls at Bahu Plaza
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 1: In the much publicized case of illegal allotment of shops/ halls at Bahu Plaza, the State High Court has directed the Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department to file fresh status report in the light of the affidavit filed by the Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department. The Court also granted two weeks time to Sajjad Ahmed Bhat, to file objections to the petition justifying his allotment.
These directions were passed in a petition filed by Sunil Mahajan challenging the allotment of Hall No.209 South Block, Bahu Plaza in favour of Sajjad Ahmed Bhat on the ground that no procedure was followed while making the allotment, which according to him was based on extraneous considerations.
When the matter was taken up by Justice J P Singh today, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of the Court to the affidavit filed by the Commissioner Secretary GAD on Court’s directive dated February 22, 2012 wherein the GAD submitted that it was decided to advise the Housing and Urban Development Department to put the allottees to notice, seek their objections and thereafter pass appropriate orders with a view to restore the properties to JDA, which would be inconsonance with the orders of the State High Court.
The affidavit further said that vide communication OM No-GAD (L) F-534/2009 dated April 12, 2012, the Housing and Urban Development Department has been advised to proceed further in the matter.
Advocate I H Bhat appearing for Sajjad Ahmed Bhat submitted that his client was not in possession of Hall No 209, which is under challenge in the petition, but submitted that allotment was made in favour of Sajjad Ahmed Bhat.
The Court recorded the submission of counsel appearing for the Sajjad Ahmed Bhat and allowed two weeks time for filling objections. Advocate S S Ahmed apprised the Court about the order dated June 1, 2009 passed in a batch of petitions wherein the State High Court quashed the cancellation of allotment of 31 halls/ shops.
The Counsel appearing for the petitioner informed the Court that despite the lapse of three years no action was initiated and it was only due to the intervention of this Court, Commissioner Secretary GAD on April 12, 2012 asked the Commissioner Secretary Housing to proceed further in the matter as per the directions of the state High Court.
AAG Gagan Basotra appeared for the State.
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