SVC sumons top H&UD officer over irregularities in JDA

The State Vigilance Organisation (SVC) today summoned a top official of House and Urban Development Ministry in connection with a series of irregularities in Jammu Development Authority, including the grant of 31 acres of prime land to a private organisation.
"The State Vigilance Commission has summoned Special Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department in connection with bunglings in JDA," SVC Additional Secretary Firdous Ahmad Giri said.
The Special Secretary has been summoned to appear in person before the Commission along with the report, he added.
Hearing a complaint against a former Vice-Chairman of JDA, the Commission also took a serious view of Commissioner and Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Bipul Pathak for forwarding the probe report of JDA without his remarks.

The Commission observed that Pathak instead of enquiring the matter at his level had forwarded the report submitted to him by JDA VC Mubarak Singh to the Commission, without endorsing his remarks, the officer said.
The SVC has asked him to furnish a detailed report clarifying his position, he said.

The report reveals a series of irregularities allegedly committed by the former VC, including allotment of 31 acres of land to a private trust in 1994, without approval of the government, the officer said.
In addition, the trust has raised constructions despite the fact that the sanction granted to the Trust had already been cancelled, he said.

The report reveals that services of some contractual employees had also been regularised in violation of standing rules, he said.