Lokayukta cancels Digvijay’s `hasty’ land deal

The Lokayukta also discovered that all chief ministers from 1981 to 1995, irrespective of regimes, have doled out undue favours. The story of pleasing newspapers and their barons began during the period of Arjun Singh who allotted land to 43 publications. The trend was followed by Motilal Vora, Shyama Charan Shukla and Sunder Lal Patwa who happens to be the Union Minister for Rural Development.

The inquiry report says the allotment was in an “arbitrary, unjustified” manner and done without application of mind and “resulted in heavy loss to the exchequer.” The Lokayukta pulled up the entire Cabinet, barring Finance Minister Ajay Mushran, for its “total lack of courage, moral and otherwise, in not resisting the unjustified order of allotment.”

Governor Bhai Mahavir and the Lokayukta, a retired Supreme Court judge, had locked horns over the report. Mahavir insisted that Justice Faizanuddin submit the full report to him as per the Lokayukta Act provision. Faizanuddin refused and accused the Governor of pursuing a `hidden agenda’ by trying to politicise the institution.

Mahavir sent a series of letters to Faizanuddin who ignored them. Mahavir wrote a hard-hitting letter to him when he came to know that the Lokayukta had not indicted the chief minister. Both the constitutional functionaries came out openly against each other on the issue.

The Lokayukta was inquiring into the allegations of favouritism against Digvijay Singh in the allotment of one acre worth Rs 3.92 crore at Rs 5 lakh to Nai Dunia.

The Lokayukta said: “I cannot remain without observing that the Cabinet meeting dated 17.8.95 was only a one-man show as none of the ministers seems to have considered and appreciated the fact that the land was reserved for medical department.”

The Lokayukta also said the the CM’s order dated 23.6.95 — approved by the Cabinet on 17.8.95 — was “wholly against and in utter contravention of the policy guidelines (about allotment of land to newspapers by a Cabinet sub-committee) which had come into force on 10.8.95 itself.”

This was before the Cabinet decision of August 17, 1995 and allotment order five days later. Therefore, the said order of allotment be cancelled by the Government in view of the fact that the land is more useful for medical and other public purposes as disclosed by various correspondence between the Government and its officials, the Lokayukta said.

The Indian Express is in possession of a copy of the order which had been kept under wrap by the State Government to whom it was submitted a few weeks ago. It was after a prolonged correspondence between the Raj Bhawan and the Lok Ayukt that the copy was sent to him last week.

Undue favour or policy matter?

* On 19.4.1995, the CM passes an order to allot the land at the rate of Rs.5 lakh per acre; collector is informed.

* Finance Minister Ajay Mushran objects to it on July 21, 1995 saying the value of the land is much more.

* On August 10, 1995, the policy regarding allotment of land to newspapers is cleared and orders issued after framing the rules.

* State cabinet clears the allotment to Nai Dunia on 17.8.95. Mushran was not present.

* Allotment order and grant of lease issued on 22.8.95.

* In 1998, a complaint is lodged with the Lokayukta by Manoj Yadav of Indore against the CM for allotting the land.