SVC recommends restoration of land worth crores to J-K Govt

The State Vigilance Commission (SVC) today recommanded restoration of prime land worth crores of rupees to the state government after the land was 'illegally sold' off by some private persons to other people.
During an enquiry into an alleged illegal transfer of land, it surfaced that Kulwant Singh and Bikarm Singh of Tral in Pulwama district have sold prime state land, vested in them by virtue of section 4 and section 8 of The J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, SVC officials said.
Kulwant Singh, while recording his statement during proceedings in the State Vigilance Commission, stated that he and his brother have sold out 67 kanals (over 8 acres) and 12 marals of land under Khasra Nos. 958/458 Min, 959/458 min, 805/459 min, 507/446 min, and 805/446 min to one Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din of Malbagh Naseembagh, Srinagar for consideration of Rs 2.04 crore, they said.

During scrutiny of the revenue records, it further came to light that Revenue Authorities have entered the name of the said buyer in 'Tenant Column' as 'Tiller' from Kharief, 2013, in the Revenue records, they said.
The land having obtained by Kulwant Singh and Bikram Singh under Section 4 and Section 8 of The J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 could not be sold and sale of such land is not only illegal but, by doing so the land has to be restored back to the state by invoking the relevant provisions of the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, they said.

In the instant case, it has surfaced that as a first step the entries as 'Tiller' have been made in favour of said Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din by the Revenue Authorities, he said.

They further said that in a statement signed before the Commission, Kulwant Singh admitted that land has been sold to Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din.
It has also come to fore that Kulwant Singh along with his brother have sold 67 kanals and 12 marlas, whereas, as per the Revenue records only 44 kanals and 1 marla have been vested to him, thereby, indicating that the sellers have sold out 23 kanals and 11 marlas of additional land, which as per contents of the complaint is State Land under Forest Department.

The State Vigilance Commission referred the matter to the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, with the direction to take action under section 13(3) of The J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, so that the said land after enquiry could be vested in the state, they said.