The Punjab government was at the receiving end for its inconsistency in its action taken against those who have grabbed land in the periphery of Chandigarh. Peeved at the inconsistency,the Punjab and Haryana High Court today questioned Punjab as to why a Commission of inquiry be not set up to probe the case pertaining to illegal properties owned by high ups in the periphery of Chandigarh. The High Court on the last date of hearing had sought details of the action taken against those who have allegedly grabbed government,shamlat or Panchayat land in a tabular form. The Punjab government today submitted voluminous record running into nearly 600 pages. Seemingly unimpressed,the Bench remarked that the endeavour appears to increase the size of the file of the case to an extent where the Court is unable to apply its mind. The Court also referred to the discrepancies which had surfaced in the list of properties furnished by 115 officers. On the other hand,Punjab law officer requested the Court to the officers to furnish complete details of their properties. The Court made it clear that the investigation cannot be limited to officers alone and that action needs to be taken against all encroachers and grabbers. The Punjab government today also submitted that there are around 7,000 cases registered against land grabbers and violators. The Court also questioned as to how long will the proceedings take to conclude in such cases. Failing to give a definite reply,the law officer requested the Court to give directions to the officers. The list of individuals in illegal possession of land in and around Chandigarh was today placed by Punjab. It mentions the name of MLA Jagmohan Singh Kang,his son Amninder Singh Kang,and his wife Ravinder Kaur Kang under the sub head information with regard to land in and around the periphery of Chandigarh under illegal possession. The voluminous record also mentions names of former Director General of Police (DGP),Punjab NPS Aulakh,retired IAS officers J.S. Kesar and Daljit Singh Dhillon,ex-MLA Balwan Singh,ex-SSP Gurcharan Singh Pherurai and DSP Mukhtiar Singh. Also the list has names of former UT DSP,B D Bector and Jatinder Singh,retired executive engineer,Chandigarh Housing Board. An affidavit was also filed by the Chief Secretary,Punjab today which read that directions have been issued to all the Departments to take necessary and immediate steps to get the land released from illegal possession. The Bench remarked that that the number of individual encroachers would run into several thousands. Referring to the report,the Bench ruled that a considerable number of highly placed government servants were according to the Chief Secretary not encroachers,indicating the possibility that they were purchasers of encroached properties. The case has been deferred to April 23 giving Punjab government time to respond as to why a Commission of inquiry be not constituted for probing the case. Newsline was the first to report that discrepancies had surfaced in the list of properties furnished by as many as 115 officers of the Punjab government. Information from a total of 2,734 officers was sought by the special investigation team (SIT) of which information regarding 115 officers do not tally. This was informed by the Punjab government on the last date of hearing in December. The development took place during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) arising out of a suo motu notice taken by Justice Ranjit Singh of the High Court on the issue of alleged illegal properties owned by various high ups in the periphery of Chandigarh.
