I was the one who approached the high court, says Khemka

Countering the Haryana government’s claims that his transfer was in pursuance to the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka said that it was he who approached the high court in the first place.

The marching orders for Khemka came soon after he annulled the mutation deal of the land that Robert Vadra company Sky Light Hospitality had sold to DLF Limited for Rs 58 crore.

Talking to Business Standard on phone, Khemka said he was holding the positions of director-general consolidation of land holdings and land records cum inspector-general registration, special collector and special land acquisition officer. “I approached the court since special land acquisition officer and special collector were of junior ranks,” said Khemka.

On October 1, the high court said that considering Khemka’s request to relieve him of the charge of special collector (which is traditionally held by director consolidation), government should assign the charge to someone who can competently exercise the power of special collector.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government has said the post of director, consolidation of holdings and land records is one post. “The same officer while discharging consolidation and settlement functions uses the designation of director, consolidation of holdings, and while discharging land records administration functions, uses the designation of director land records,” said a government spokesperson.

The spokesman added that the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dated October 1, 2012 in CWP No. 5460 of 2009 are very clear and categorical.