CAG raps JDA for failing to retrieve prime properties in Jammu

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has rapped Jammu Development Authority (JDA) for failing to retrieve Rs 147 crore prime properties, including allotment of Rs 116 crore land to a non-state subject in Jammu, during last 14 years.
"The authority has not taken sufficient steps towards legal remedy for retrieval of the plots at prime locations valuing Rs 146 crores in Jammu," the CAG in its report for the year 2015 said.
The report said audit noticed instances of, "faulty allotment of plots to non-state subjects in violation of Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act, handing over possession to allottees without execution of lease deeds and delayed action in cancellation of allotments for default in payment of premium, resulting in litigation and consequent blockage of properties at prime locations valuing Rs 146.96 crores."

The CAG said the government had on June 2015 stated that land would be disposed off after the settlement of court cases, it, however, said that was not done.
"The reply was not acceptable as adhocism and delayed actions by the JDA had invited litigation," it said.
"The legal section of JDA is virtually defunct as it is headed by a legal assistant-non-gazetted official for over a decade," the report mentioned.

The CAG pointed out that 283 kanals of "prime land" worth Rs 116 crores was given to the non-state subject trustees of Shree Yog Vedanta Samiti (SYVS) at Bagwati Nagar in Jammu city in 2005.

"No legal action was taken by JDA against the construction of residential flats and encroachment of excess land in violation of the trust deed," the report said.
"Similarly, JDA granted land of Rs 11.48 crore of land to
International Amusement Limited at Bahu Fort with execution of lease deed in 2003. It too has the status quo order by the court since 2007," the CAG said.
"The status quo order granted by the court in cases of irregular allotments to Bestech India (Rs 9.48 crore of land), Sudesh Kumar (Rs 3.14 crore), DevAnand (Rs 2.21 crore), Jammu Dental Charitable Trust (Rs 3. 55 crore) and Kamran Ali (Rs 0. 74 crore) and the legal section of JDA has failed to stay the status quo orders in all these cases pending for the last 14 years," it said.

The report said in the case of the allotments of the plots by JDA, a committee was appointed for "verification and genuineness" of the allottees of plots in different housing colonies and the the panel in 2006 reported 148 cases of allotments in violation of the norms.
"The committee recommended cancellation of these allotments. Instead of taking any action, the Board of Directors decided on April 2012 to constitute another committee to resolve the issue but no action was taken until January 2015," it added.