Punjab softens stand on UT periphery properties’ case

The final decision assumes significance since the Punjab government had till now vehemently opposed the transfer of investigation of the case to a Judicial Tribunal. “Though we have decided to state that there is no need for a Judicial Tribunal to look into the case,the State will not oppose if the High Court decides to transfer the matter to a Judicial Tribunal,” a senior government functionary told Newsline.

The State will emphasise the several status reports prepared by government agencies on alleged illegal properties owned by high-ups in the city’s periphery. The case will come up for hearing on Thursday.

Highlighting the gravity of the case,the High Court had remarked that it is equivalent to the infamous 2G spectrum case. The High Court had asked the Punjab government to give its final response during the resumed hearing of a PIL arising out of a suo motu notice taken by Justice Ranjit Singh. 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.