LIT in the dock after allegations of fraud

Kuldip Bhatia
Ludhiana, August 13

Those who have undergone the ordeal of getting a sale deed of a plot or property allotted by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) registered, even when all documents are in order and formalities are completed, know that it is not that easy. But strangely, sale deeds of three plots were registered in the cases where the original allottee had expired which is against the rules as the allottee has to mark his/her presence for registration of a sale deed.

It is said to be the handiwork of a couple of clerks in the sale branch of the Trust and certain property dealers that sale deeds of three plots, 324/64-J at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar and 71-C at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (in the name of Sunil Raj – now deceased) and 593-F at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (in the name of Madhu Bhushan, now deceased) were registered without marking the presence of the original allottees after a deal was struck between the conniving LIT employees and family members of the deceased allottees.

In a complaint lodged with the Local Bodies Department, senior officials of the LIT, the Vigilance wing of the Local Government Department and the Vigilance Bureau of the Punjab Police, Jatinder Singh, a resident of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, has maintained that as per rules no sale deed could be registered in the name of deceased persons and rules were violated in these three cases by the LIT employees to serve their personal interests.

He had demanded criminal proceedings against the erring employees and supervisory officials for these fraudulent dealings and cancellation of the sale deeds.

The complaint, in original, was forwarded by the Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, to the Principal Secretary, Local Government Department, vide their office letter (no. 31207/VB/S-12 dated June 25, 2019) for further necessary action in this regard.

The Directorate of Local Government (DLG), vide office memo (no. S2-DLG-TSC-2019/32129 dated July 12, 2019) has sought comments from the Executive Officer (EO) of LIT on this matter without any delay.

The Trust EO, HS Sandhu, said the enquiry has been assigned for verification of the allegations and detailed comments as sought by the DLG would be sent on the basis of the enquiry report.

What EO has to say

The Trust EO, HS Sandhu, said the enquiry has been assigned for verification of the allegations and detailed comments as sought by the DLG would be sent on the basis of the enquiry report.