Two years after The Indian Express expose on largescale allotment of prime plots in the Capital to organisations linked to the RSS, the UPA government today ordered a probe into ‘‘cases of allotment of land made by the Land and Development Office since 1998-99.’’ The Ministry of Urban Development, in its order, appointed a one-man committee, retired bureaucrat Yogesh Chandra, to ‘‘inquire into the matter and review all cases of allotment made by L&DO to various social, cultural, religious, educational institutions since 1998-99.’’ The committee, which has been told to submit its report within two months, has been asked to ‘‘recommend action in cases where deviations from the prescribed procedure and/or fulfilment of conditions of allotment are observed.’’ It has also been empowered to ‘‘suggest guidelines for allotment of land in future by the Land and Development Office in a fair, objective and transparent manner.’’ The Land and Development Office has been directed by the Ministry to ‘‘place all relevant records before the committee and provide necessary assistance to the committee in conducting the inquiry.’’ Confirming that his Ministry had ordered the probe, Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told The Indian Express that ‘‘the committee has been asked to submit the report within two months and no further extension will be given.’’ Official sources said that ‘‘each and every case will be verified’’ since allotments to RSS affiliates had been made during the tenure of the BJP-led government. The sources pointed to the Ministry order which notes that ‘‘there are also cases of allotment of more than one plot of land to some organisations.’’ The Express story: how Sangh affiliates landed prime space
