No transfers till decision on Noida plots,SC tells UP

The Authority had issued these notices over alleged irregularities in allotment and conversion of several plots. A few influential persons,including Yadav,have also been accused of tweaking the parameters that followed from the time of allotment to conversion to transfer of plots at better places.

“The competent authority shall pass appropriate orders in all the cases where showcause notices have been issued. It is expected that the Authority will complete the task within four weeks,” the bench said,while hearing a PIL by Noida Entrepreneurs Association.

Perusing the affidavit by Noida CEO Rama Raman,the court expressed its dissatisfaction over the manner in which the Authority dealt with even those cases where the irregularities appeared clear.

The court pulled up the Authority especially for not taking action against Yadav and her two daughters,saying it was a case where facts were “self-speaking” and “prima facie she lacks bonafide”. Yadav allegedly abused her official position to change land use of some plots and to corner four plots for her two daughters,husband and herself. One of these,measuring 500 sqm,has a palatial bungalow.

“There is no action at all. You are protecting the lady and her daughters. That is the only inference any person with reasonable prudence will draw,” the bench said.

The court’s remarks came as senior advocate U U Lalit,appearing for the Authority,contended that while departmental inquiry had exonerated Yadav,a CBI court held her guilty of corruption only in November 2012. She was sentenced to three years in jail,and her appeal is now pending with the High Court.

The bench,however,told Lalit that the Authority’s decision had nothing to do with the court’s proceedings and that they should have acted on their own.

“Everything in this case was done in a clandestine manner. The allotment was done (in her favour) even though the application was incomplete in many respects and was submitted after the closing date of the scheme,” it said.

When Lalit sought to argue that departmental inquiry was necessitated since a CEO would be a civil servant,the bench observed: “Noida CEO position is musical chairs. Incumbent in this position changes every two months.”