Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 8: Properties worth hundreds of crores of J&K Government, are lying under the illegal possession of the people in Delhi, Hissar in Haryana, Amritsar and several other States of the country while respective Governments in the State have virtually failed to retrieve the same for the last many decades.
These revelations were made by the Minister for Agriculture Production Ghulam Nabi Lone while replying to the question of NC Member Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri in the Upper House of the J&K Legislature today. He disclosed that 97 kanals and 11 marlas of State land at Rajaji Marg in Delhi was under the illegal possession of Defence and CPWD authorities. Besides this, 1251 kanals of J&K land is under the illegal possession of Bajwa Brothers and Mirpur Cooperative Society at Sirsa in Haryana.
At Daim Gunj, on Tapai Road in Amritsar 32 kanals and 9 marlas prime land is under illegal possession of some people. About one kanal and six marlas land in Chandigarh is also under illegal possession. In Mumbai a Flat measuring 1436 sq ft area and Duplex flat-2, second floor Haveli Napean, Sea Road Mumbai with area of 5672 sq ft is under illegal possession. Mr Lone disclosed that the State properties at Haryana/ Sirsa and one at Amritsar, are sub-judice and the State Government is contesting the cases through the standing council in the respective courts of Punjab and Haryana for the restoration of the State properties.
The Government further replied that at Rajaji Marg New Delhi the State Government has 114 kanals and 11 marlas land out of which only 17 kanals is with the J&K Government and rest of the land is in illegal possession of Ministry of Defence and CPWD. At Chanakya Puri Delhi, the State Government has 11 kanals and 18 marlas land and this piece of land is in State’s possession. At 5-Prithvi Raj Road, New Delhi all 41 kanals and 12 marlas land is in the possession of State Government. At Amritsar also, the State owns another piece of land measuring 19 kanals, and it is in the possession of State Government.
Several members including Jugal Kishore, Naresh Gupta, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Yasir Reshi, Sajjad Kichloo, Ghulam Nabi Monga and Showkat Ganai cornered the Minister over the issue and alleged that the State has been failed to get back these properties. They claimed that for the last many decades, no sincere efforts are understood to have been initiated in this regard. Dr Shehnaz Ganai, and Showkat Ganai pointed out that this issue was raised in the Upper as well as in the Lower Houses several times and every time unique reply is given. Two Committees were also framed which visited these places, sought the detail and then submitted reports as well. But there is no information about the fate of those reports and the action taken by the Government.
Mr Monga and Naresh Gupta said that what is problem to the Government in telling market value of these properties and steps taken to get them back. There is no mention about the properties at Kolkata and other places. They pressed the Government for detailed reply and also sought directives from the acting Chairman for setting up of a special committee in this regard.
Minister for Agriculture Production G N Lone while replying on behalf of Chief Minister said that these properties are lying in illegal possession of some people since 1947 and it is unfair to hold this Coalition Government responsible for it. He said the Government would take up the issue with the Advocate General and also hold meeting in this regard. If needed Standing Counsels would be changed. He said the Mufti Mohd Sayeed led Government was serious on the issue and they would discuss the strategy with the Chief Minister how to pursue these cases for getting our properties back.
The acting Chairman Jehangir Mir while rejecting the formation of special committee said that two committees were already framed and the status is same. There is no need to appoint another committee. But he issued directives to the Government to take this issue very seriously and take all the necessary steps to get these properties back by taking up the issue with the Chief Minister.
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