| HC directs revenue secy, CB to file latest status of inquiries | | Alleged hushing up of Chatha-Sunjwan land scam | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 18: In a PIL, highlighting the alleged hushing up of Chatta-Sunjwan land scam, a high court division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today directed revenue secretary to file his affidavit by or before April 26 next, indicating the present status of the inquiry ordered vide government order No 44-Rev(S) of April 1, 2016 whereby Regional Director Settlement and Survey, Jammu, was appointed as inquiry officer to fix the responsibility and identify the officials who had tempered the revenue records of Sunjwan as pointed out by then divisional commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu in his inquiry report.
The bench also directed crime branch (CB), Jammu, to file the updated status of the ongoing verification before the next date of hearing.
After hearing the counsels, the bench expressed its displeasure over the slow progress in the inquiry and directed the senior AAG to file the personal affidavit of revenue secretary to indicate the latest progress of inquiry already ordered by the state government.
The bench asked the senior AAG about the present status of both the inquiries and whether these had been completed or not. The senior AAG sought two weeks time to respond to the query made by the bench. The bench then expressed displeasure and deferred the matter till April 26, 2016 by directing the revenue secretary to file affidavit, indicating the progress in the inquiry.
Other counsels sought the PIL's closure and argued that media trial was going on and M/s SRK Associates had been sandwiched between the petitioner and the state respondents. It was submitted that the land in question was a proprietary land and not the state land.
After hearing the two sides at length, the bench directed revenue secretary to file his affidavit by or before 26 April next, indicating present status of the inquiry ordered vide government order No 44-Rev(S) of April 1, 2016 whereby Regional Director Settlement and Survey, Jammu, was appointed as inquiry officer to fix the responsibility and identify the officials who had tempered the revenue records of Sunjwan as pointed out by then divisional commissioner in his inquiry report. |
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