Tribune
News Service
Chandigarh,
April 23
Setting
a three-day deadline, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked
the State of Punjab to give its response on setting up a one-member
commission of inquiry, headed by a retired High Court judge, to probe
into the illegal occupation of common village land by the higher-ups
in the periphery of Chandigarh.
As
the matter came up for resumed hearing before the Division Bench
headed by acting Chief Justice MM Kumar, an affidavit filed by Punjab
Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh was placed before it.
In
the affidavit, the Chief Secretary submitted: “If a commission of
inquiry is appointed, it would delay the proceedings which are
already going on in various courts to retrieve the public land, in
our opinion appointment of commission is not required.”
Apparently
not satisfied with the reply, the Bench asked the counsel for the
Punjab government to seek fresh instructions on the setting up of the
commission and inform the Bench on Wednesday.
The
Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had made clear its opinion
that only a commission could probe the matter independently. But
before passing an order, the Bench had asked the state government to
respond to the query why a commission should not be constituted.
The
case will now come up for further hearing on April 25. The matter was
brought to the court’s notice by a Nayagoan resident, Kuldip Singh.
Accusing
a senior police functionary of a land-grab bid in Nayagaon, he had
sought protection, while praying for the registration of an FIR and a
CBI probe into the dealings.
The
inquiry was entrusted to the ADGP after Justice Ranjit Singh of the
High Court took cognizance of the matter. Justice Ranjit Singh had
asked the ADGP to lay emphasis on Nayagaon, Zirakpur, Mohali, Kansal
and Koraran areas.
The
judge had added: “It would also need investigation to see what is
the source of acquisition.” The state has already been admonished
by the court for its failure to initiate action for getting
government and forest land freed from illegal possession in Nayagaon.
The
Bench had also directed the authorities to inform the court about the
cases registered and action taken against the illegal occupants,
besides submitting details of the action initiated to get the land
freed from illegal occupants.
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