High Court to hear BDA plot case now on April 30

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 21

A hearing in the case of possession not being given by the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) to 155 allottees of residential plots on 36 acres of land at the old Central Jail site was held in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday.

Before the beginning of the hearing, the allottees, through their counsel, presented photographs of the work going on at the site and told the court that in the last hearing held on March 14, the estate officer of the BDA had given an affidavit that 90 per cent work at the site had been completed and possession would be given to the allottees by March 31.

They claimed that even by April 18, they had not been given possession and even the work at the site had not been completed. They stated that roads had not been laid, streetlights not installed, park not developed and electricity connection was not in place in the colony. Looking at the pace at which the BDA was doing the work, it would take three more months to complete it, the allottees told the court.

The allottees also informed the court that the BDA was charging interest from them without giving them the possession and that they should be exempted from paying the interest.

The court, after hearing both the sides, decided on April 30 as the next date of hearing. With this, the BDA has got 12 more days to complete the work and give possession to the allottees.

It is pertinent to mention that on the last hearing held on April 13, Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) submitted an affidavit before the Punjab and Haryana High Court claiming it would give possession of plots to the owners at the old Central Jail site by March 31.

In the affidavit, it was stated that development was going on at a fast pace at the site as roads were ready and pipes for supplying water and sewer had been laid.

Around 70-80 per cent of the development work had been carried out and the rest would be completed by March 31. The court directed the BDA officials that as per the affidavit, they should submit a report on the completion of all development work and give possession to the allottees by the next date of hearing.

On February 23, 2016, the BDA held a draw for 155 residential plots on 36 acres of land at the old Central Jail site. It was stated that after completing the entire work within 10 months, possession would be given to the allottees by December 31, 2016.

After the draw of lots, all allottees deposited 25 per cent of the money, but till date, most of them have not received possession of their plots.