Govt suspends resolution, asks Kharar MC to contest case

Foiling the bid of the civic body to give away the claim of prime land measuring 10 acres on the Kharar-Ludhiana National Highway-95 at the Khanpur village in Kharar, the Punjab government on Wednesday ordered to suspend the resolution of the Kharar Municipal Council (MC), wherein it had decided to withdraw its claim on the prime land worth Rs 100 crore. Instead, the MC was directed to contest the ongoing court case to secure land from the alleged illegal possession.

Issuing the orders, Secretary, Local Government, SS Rajput, also asked Director, Local Government, SK Sharma to examine the role of MC officials and councillors in adopting a resolution against the interests of the MC as well as the public at large.

The development assumes significance as the MC, in its general house meeting held here on July 14, had resolved with a majority vote to withdraw the case pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in favour of one Bhajan Singh of Jhingra village, who claimed to be in possession and owner of the disputed land. Confirming the development, Rajput told Newsline that the entire case would be examined thoroughly and action would be initiated against anybody found indulging in any unlawful activity.

MC had taken the decision on a plea of Bhajan Singh without considering the interest of the civic body or public at large in the case.

In his plea, Singh had claimed that he was in the possession of the disputed land and also owned it as per revenue records. He had further claimed that after failing to establish its ownership over the land, MC had already lost the case in lower courts, following which an appeal was filed before a higher court. “Since the ownership of land in revenue record is not in its name, the MC should withdraw the appeal filed against me,” said Singh, who is SGPC member owing allegiance to former Punjab Assembly Speaker Ravi Inder Singh. 

The decision had raised many eyebrows as no justification was given as to what compelled the civic body to withdraw its claim over the land, for which it was fighting a legal battle for the last nine years.

Taking up the issue with Local Government Minister , former Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh demanded a Vigilance probe into the role of all those involved in the multi-crore land scam for bartering away the MC interest. “Steps should be taken to remove those municipal councillors who had supported and consciously signed in favour of the proposal,” he stressed in a formal representation. He said, “By adopting this resolution, MC has alienated its right on prime property worth Rs 100 crore in favour of an individual for its own greed and lust”. Calling it a very serious matter, Bir Devinder urged that the government action should be transparent and immediate. “MC EO be directed to peruse the matter in court ,” he further wrote.