Industrial plots’ allotment arbitrary, rules HC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

Nearly seven years after the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation published an advertisement for allotting 202 industrial plots at Kutana in Rohtak district, the Punjab and High Court today ruled the process of plots’ allotment was arbitrary. It was carried out without framing any objective, transparent and rationale criteria.

Taking up the matter, the Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Hari Pal Verma added the question as to whether all the allotments were tainted or unjustified or only some were beneficiary of the largesse was required to be examined.

The Bench also directed the constitution of a committee to assess the financial viability and technical feasibility of each applicant who appeared before the earlier selection committee. The committee would consist of Additional Chief Secretary Vijay Vardhan, Principal Secretary Mahavir Singh and Additional Director of Industries Ashwini Kumar.

“The committee will prepare an objective, transparent and fair criteria to assess the suitability of each applicant on the basis of the documents filed along with their respective applications. If more applicants than the plots available are found suitable, the committee will hold draw for the allotment of plots before making recommendations to the court.

“If any previously successful candidate is found suitable, the committee will make an endeavour to recommend the allotment of the same plot. The committee will make an attempt to submit a report within four months to the court for further action. The committee can seek clarification or direction required to give effect to the orders passed,” it said.

The Bench observed that the earlier committee had failed to assess technical feasibility and economic viability of the applicants. The entire process was tailor-made to allot plots to the applicants as per whims and fancies of the members of the allotment committee.

“Reading between the lines and the manner of recording of minutes shows that the allotment of plots was made on predetermined basis,” it said. The Bench added in one case, the applicants’ family was engaged in the wholesale business of ‘bidi’ and cigarette.