Ensure redressal of pending cases in 3 months, staff told

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 15

While tightening noose around those possessing panchayati lands illegally, the Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Department directed the staff to ensure the redressal of all pending cases within three months under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act and Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961.

Issuing directions, Anurag Verma, Secretary of the department, said the warrant to possession should be issued after following the proper procedure as per law within one month of issuing the eviction notice and then possession should be taken within one month after coordinating with the Revenue Department.

Verma said checking at offices of District Development and Panchayat officers would be conducted after November 15 and if any kind of dereliction would be noticed for non-issuance of warrant to possession as per above said timeline, then the District Development and Panchayat Officer and Block Development and 

Panchayat Officer concerned  would be held responsible.

“Checking regarding cases found pending beyond December 15 and regarding implementation of the possession notice would be carried out and if any case found pending beyond three months or 

if found that the implementation of the possession notice is pending beyond the prescribed timeline, then the officer concerned  would be held responsible,” the Secretary said.

Verma said while conducting an inquiry of the Gram Panchayat, Teeda Block, Majri District, it was noticed that the officials concerned  took over five years to resolve a pending case under Section 7 of the Act. Besides, it was also noticed that the eviction notice was issued by the District Development and Panchayat Officer, Mohali, on June 6 last year but even after a lapse of 18 months, possession was not taken by issuing warrant to possession.

He said during the checking of the District Development and Panchayat Office, Kapurthala, it was found that an eviction notice was issued for a 1790-acre land of which warrant to possession was issued only for 446 acres and actual possession was taken for only 80 acres.

OFFICIALSPEAK

Issuing directions, Anurag Verma, Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, said the warrant to possession should be issued after following the proper procedure as per law within one month of issuing the eviction notice and then possession should be taken within one month after coordinating with the Revenue Department.