Avinash Azad
JAMMU, Apr 8: In brazen violation of J&K Land Acquisition Act, in July 2008, Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Kishtwar made payment against fictitious case to land owner of structure which falls under widening alignment of road, without taking possession on building.
Copy of communication between Financial Commissioner (Revenue), J&K and Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), available with Early Times revealed that after the lapse of around seven years, when the compensation was made, the District Administration has failed to take possession of the building.
ADC, Kishtwar under letter number 627-30/SQ/ADCK/09, apprised to Financial Commissioner (Revenue) that the then, Collector Land Acquisition/ Assistant Commissioner Kishtwar, RK Shevan had made a payment of Rs 40 lakh to Abdul Salam Malik son of Ghulam Ahmed Malik resident of Chatroo on account of one structure which falls under widening alignment of Kishtwar-Synthan Road.
"The payment was made in the shape of two installments, of cheque number 17284415 dated July 23, 2008 of Rs 4 lakh and cheque number 17284420 dated July 25, 2008 for Rs 36 lakh", the documents revealed, adding that the payment of Rs 40 was released against assessed amount of Rs 60, 33,972.
Declining, the mode of payment was adopted by the then ACR, the ADC mentioned that the J&K Land Acquisition Act, provides only two mode of payment 100 percent after completion of final award as well as 80 per cent of the payment in anticipation of finalization of award if authorized by the Government to invoke section 17 of the act. "But the payment made by the collector is neither 100 nor 80 per cent", the ADC claimed.
Since Acquisition was requested by General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) authorities, before the proceeding ahead, no objection certificate from Home Department was required which had not been obtained.
The document further revealed that assessment was made by the Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Division Chatroo instead of Superintending Engineer (SE) Doda. "The assessment was required to be got routed through SE PWD (R&B) Doda", the documents divulged. "After making the payment, immediate possession by ACR was to be taken, which was not taken till date", document read. It is reliably learnt that the Government Degree College Chataroo is running in said building. |
