High Court slams HUDA Chief over fradulent allotment of plots

[dheerajjain]

News Source: Tribune, Chandigarh Edition
Date: August 09, 11
Weblink: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110810/haryana.htm#1

Quoted News below:

HUDA chief in dock over plot allotment
HC slams TC Gupta, three othersSaurabh Malik/TNS

Chandigarh, August 9
The Haryana Urban Development Authority’s Chief Administrator TC Gupta, IAS officer TK Sharma, Administrator RP Gupta and a representative of the Industries Director, Ashok Kumar Gupta, are in the dock in a case of alleged fraudulent allotment of industrial plots in Hisar.

In a stern one-page order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that they may actually be guilty of fraudulent allotment of plots.

The striking assertion came on a bunch of about 10 petitions filed before the high court, alleging allotment of 43 industrial plots against three advertised.

Justice Rajive Bhalla asserted: “The counsel for the petitioners asserts that though three industrial plots measuring 1/8 acres were advertised in Sectors 27 and 28 of Hisar, a total of 43 were allotted”.

Mincing no words, Justice Bhalla added: “In the absence of any cogent explanation for the increase in the number of plots, this court is prima facie satisfied that the members of a committee, consisting of TK Sharma, IAS, RP Gupta, Administrator, HUDA, Hisar, TC Gupta, Chief Administrator, Panchkula, and Ashok Kumar Gupta, representative of the Director of Industries, may be guilty of fraudulent allotment of plots of public property”.

Referring to the legal position, Justice Bhalla further added: “A fundamental rule governing allotments of public properties is that only such plots can be allotted or auctioned as are advertised”.

As Justice Bhalla took a serious view of the alleged irregularity in the allotments of plots, counsel for HUDA sought from the court to reconsider the matter.

Accepting the request, Justice Bhalla adjourned the hearing of the case. HUDA will now make clear its stand when the case comes up on September 9 for further hearing.