Vigilance summons JDA Vice Chairman over illegal constructions

The State Vigilance Commission today summoned the Vice Chairman of Jammu Development Authority (JDA), Mubarak Singh, over alleged illegal allotment of JDA land to some hotel owners, who raised buildings on them.
The Commission expressed concerns over "illegal allotment" of JDA land to private persons - and subsequent construction on them - during a former VC's tenure and summoned Singh, a Commission spokesman said.
Earlier, one Kanti Lal petitioned the Commission against a former JDA VC and other officials alleging they had illegally alloted land to some hotel owners in Jammu and Bari Brahmna.
He also alleged the officers had taken "gratification" from the hotel owners for allowing them to raise illegal constructions on the plot.

The Commission took cognisance of the complaint and sought a report from JDA, which was submitted today.
The report prima facie brings out a series of alleged lacunae on the part of the then JDA VC and officials in exercising their administrative powers.

Also, the former JDA VC had got a JDA plot at Trikuta Nagar registered in the name of his wife in an arbitrary manner, the spokesman said citing the report.
Besides, he purchased a JCB Machine worth Rs 4.5 lakhs without going for open tenders, issued NOC in violation of government instructions in this regard, he said.

The officials also facilitated encroachment over JDA land near fruit Mandi Jammu and illegally permitted a private person to raise a shopping complex there, resulting in huge loss to the state exchequer, he said.
The Commission has ordered initiation of departmental and legal action against all involved, he said.
It has also directed the VC JDA to get the encroached land retrieved and file a compliance report before it on the next date of hearing.