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| A hornet's nest stirred in Bahu Plaza | | CM brother's hall allotment case goes to court | | Early Times Reporte
Jammu|Sep 21
The Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's brother's smart move of 'grabbing' government property worth more than Rs 50 lakhs for just peanuts have stirred hornet's nest as the case has now gone to the court for hearing.
Following media expose that Chief Minister's brother identified as one Sajjad Ahmed got allotted an expensive business premises in the government owned prestigious commercial hub of Bahu Plaza, a local aspirant of the same premises has filed a petition in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The petition filed today by one Sunil Mahajan through advocate Sheikh Shakil Ahmed challenged the allotment order of the Jammu Development Authority on various grounds.
It may be mentioned here that this is not the first time that Chief Minister's brother used his influence to enjoy the government property. Earlier last year, his other brother Ghulam Mustafa Bhat filed an application before the Divisional Commissioner Jammu on almost same grounds and sought allotment of government land in his name.
Sajjad Ahmed Bhat, the CM's brother, in his application before the VC JDA had submitted that he facing hardships on account of being unemployed and therefore should be allotted a hall in the Bahu Plaza. Turning a blind eye to the fact that there are thousands of such unemployed youth who despite the degree of masters and even higher are engaged as teaching guides for Rs 1500 a month, the authorities at the helm of affairs allotted him a hall which otherwise would have fetched the JDA over Rs 50 lakhs.
Last year, when Ghulam Mustafa Bhat had applied for allotment of government land he too cited the same reason that he is landless and therefore should be allotted some government land. Though some lower officers got influenced and recommended his case but the higher authorities had turned down the plea. Later a show cause notice was served to the lower rung officers for recommending Ghulam Mustafa's case.
In the latest petition, the petitioner Sunil has submitted that he too had applied for the allotment of the said hall in response to the advertisement issued by the Jammu Development Authority. According to him his application on the prescribed proforma in April 2006 along with DD for allotment of Hall no 209 (A-2) South Block Bahu Plaza was first misplaced by JDA officials and then on 10-05-2006 he again submitted his application on the prescribed proforma for allotment of the same hall on the first come first serve basis.
The petitioner submitted that on 12-07-2007 JDA Vice chairman prepared a detailed note on the application of Sajjad Ahmed and while conducting the note clearly observed that the application of Sajjaj Ahmed is not covered under the policy f JDA.JDV Vice Chairman observed " the allotment of hall on the basis of instand application is not covered under the policy of Jammu development Authority.Even allotment on the basis of first come first serve basis at Bahu plaza shopping complex was also for the limited period and available vacant shops should be auctioned in the financial interest of the JDA. However keeping in view the circumstances faced by the applicant Sajjad Ahmed, Minister incharge may take a view regarding allotment."
That the aforesaid note of JDA VC was forwarded to respondent Housing and Urban development Minister Qazi Mohd Afzal being the chairman, board of directors of JDA on 14-07-2007 vide VC /590/ PS for taking a view regarding allotment.
The petitioner noted that Minister for housing and urban development and also chairman board of directors JDA was duty bound to uphold laws/rules governing the subject, but the minister lost sight of the fact that he is holding office in trust of public and on 07-08-2007 approved the allotment thus paving way for the issuance of the allotment order in favour of high profile younger brother of the Chief Minister
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