HC notices to Haryana over land for CM father’s memorial

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday issued notices to Haryana on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the transfer of around 42 acres of land,in the state’s Rohtak district,for a Savindhan Sthala,built in the memory of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s father,Ranbir Singh Hooda.

Notices were issued on a petition filed by Sunil Kumar and 11 others of Garhi Bohar village of Rohtak district. A similar petition had been filed in October,2011 but the petitioners withdrew it in a month with the liberty to file it afresh.

The petitioners contended that the Haryana government had originally acquired the land for the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation to develop an industrial township but later transferred it for the Savindhan Sthala. Terming the action as being illegal,the petitioners claim it was done without following any set procedure.