HUDA told to probe missing school plot allotment file

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, January 4

State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) Yashpal Singhal has directed Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Rohtak, to inquire into a file related to the allotment of a plot to SD Vidya Mandir School in Sector-12. The file went missing from HUDA office in Panipat.

Advocate Jugwinder Malik, a member of the District Bar Association, had sought information on seven points regarding the school from HUDA office on July 7.

The important point was how much financial loss the department had to bear for not collecting the ground rent for the past 33 years, he said. As per the allotment letter issued by HUDA on October 27, 1994, it was mandatory to collect the ground rent after 10 years, he added.

He said the State Public Information Commissioner (SPIO)-cum-Estate Officer (EO), HUDA, Panipat, replied on August 31 that the file pertaining to the school plot was not available in the office record. “I filed an appeal with the first appellate authority but to no avail. Then I approached the State Information Commission (SIC) on October 6,” he said.

Malik said, “The commission has observed that in case record was not forthcoming then suitable departmental/criminal action should be taken against the delinquent official.”

The SCIC directed the administrator to investigate the matter in a fair and transparent manner and fix the responsibility regarding missing /theft of the allotment file of the school within three months. If officials or employees are found guilty, then strict action be taken against them, he maintained.