State govt tells LIT to take action

Kuldip Bhatia
Ludhiana, August 8

The Punjab Government (Local Government Department) has issued directions to the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) to take action as per rules against ‘wilful and dishonest violations’ of the terms of allotment of land measuring 22814.55 square yards in Sarabha Nagar for the purpose of primary school at concessional rate.

In a memo (no. 7/74/2019(12)-5LG2/127 dated July 19, 2019), the Local Government Department has referred to the legal notice served upon the LIT and the Municipal Corporation to take action against the allottee (New Senior Secondary School) for allegedly misappropriating land with an approximate market value of Rs 1,000 crore by sub-division of land, illegal change of land use and leasing out part of the land in violation of terms and conditions of allotment.

The legal notice was served upon the LIT chairman, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, president of the managing committee of (now defunct) New Senior Secondary School, managing committees of two other schools to whom part of the land has been allegedly leased out in an illegal manner, Joint Secretary (Affiliation), CBSE, New Delhi, and CMD of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited by advocate Aditya Jain on behalf of BR Katna, a resident of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar locality.

It was alleged in the legal notice that the said site was allotted on concessional rates strictly for the purpose of setting up a primary school.

“There was a clear embargo and prohibition in the allotment letter/agreement from making any additions and alterations without the written consent from the LIT and that only one building for the school could be constructed in the said property. Further, the allottee was also prohibited from alienating or transferring the said property in any manner nor could the same be used for any other purpose except for which it was allotted.”

The notice stated that different schools and commercial establishments had started to come up on the school site by fragmenting the land allotted by the Trust. It was further alleged that the management of the allottee school had leased out parts of land to other schools on the basis of lease agreements, which were just a pretense and overground face of the “underground, dishonest and fraudulent transactions”.

The legal notice had called upon the LIT and MC authorities for cancellation of allotment of land and demolition of illegal structures raised thereon while the PSPCL had been asked to immediately disconnect multiple electricity connections on the premises within 30 days of receipt of the notice.

The LIT Executive Officer HS Sandhu said the matter had been put on the agenda of the Trust meeting to be convened in next few days and appropriate action as per law would be taken in for violation of terms and conditions illegal construction raised.