In the much publicized writ petition filed by Social Activist Prof. S.K. Bhalla alleging construction of a palatial house by the Former Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla on State Land comprised in Khasra No.781 min in which the State High Court on June, 1st, 2015 had directed the Director State Vigilance Organization and SSP VOJ to file the latest status of the complaint filed by the petitioner dated May, 5, 2015 wherein serious allegations of encroachment of State land and accumulation of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income have been leveled against the former Minister Raman Bhalla.
Pursuant to the Court directions the SVO today filed a status report in the State High Court wherein it is mentioned that the then Revenue Minister has purchased land measuring 1 Kanal 10 Marlas bearing Khasra Nos.778 and 779 situated at Village Deeli, Jammu from three persons and the allegation is that a palatial residential building has been constructed by Sh.Raman Bhalla over State Land bearing Khasra No.781 min adjoining Satyam Resorts and Jammu Plaza which too have been constructed over the said State Land. It is further stated that the rough sketch of the plot in mutation No.4747/J shows that the plot has “Gair Mumkin Gali” at North, South and West Side of the plot whereas the actual construction (illegal) does not have three galis and located at the left side of the road leading from Satyam Resorts to JK Resorts and hence it can be established that all the concerned Departments deliberately ignored the vital information and facilitated the illegal encroachment and construction on the State Land.
The status report according to CNS further says that the concerned Patwari in his report dated 27-09-2011 has stated that the said land is not a Nazool, JDA or custodian. Another aspect of this illegal construction is huge construction cost disproportionate to the known source of income of Sh. Raman Bhalla. It has also been alleged that the cost of each bathroom exceeds Rs.20.00 lacs and there are five bathrooms in the said building. The tentative cost of material exceeds Rs.5.00 crore.
In the status report it is submitted that the Enquiry Officer has collected the record pertaining to the building permission accorded by the authorities of Municipal Corporation Jammu in favour of Raman Bhalla son of Shiv Kumar for construction of a residential building in Khasra Nos.778 and 779 of Village Deeli, Jammu. The revenue record pertaining to the land bearing Khasra No.778 and 779 has also been obtained from the office of Tehsildar Jammu South by the Enquiry Officer. Statements of the witnesses from whom Raman Bhalla has purchased the land falling under Khasra No.778 and 779 have also been recorded. The record collected so far from the office of Tehsildar Jammu (South) and Commissioner of JMC is under scrutiny of SVO.
It is further stated in the status report that the demarcation of the land situated at Village Deeli, Jammu upon which Raman Bhalla the then Revenue Minister of J&K has constructed his residential house has been got conducted by the revenue officials to ascertain whether the residential building in question has been constructed on the land bearing Khasra Nos.778 and 779 situated at Village Deeli or in Khasra No.781 (State Land) as alleged in the complaint. The demarcation report is still awaited from the revenue authorities.It is further highlighted in the status report that spot inspection of the residential building situated at Village Deeli, Jammu of Raman Bhalla has also been got conducted by the officials of building section and Khilafwarzi section of Municipal Corporation Jammu to ascertain whether the building in question has been constructed as per the approved plan permitted by the Municipal Corporation, Jammu or otherwise, report of which is also still awaited for further scrutiny.
It is worthwhile to mention herein that in the writ petition filed by Prof. S.K. Bhalla the petitioner has sought the constitution of a Special Investigation Team to probe his complaint directed against the former Revenue Minister who according to petitioner has allegedly constructed a palatial house on State Land comprised in Khasra No.781 at Village Deeli. The petitioner has also prayed that Director SVO be directed to register an FIR against the high profile Minister and all those who facilitated the illegal construction/encroachment on State Land falling in Khasra No.781. (CNS)