Panchkula DC cancels mutation of 325-acre land

Reversing the order of tehsildar, Panchkula deputy commissioner (DC) SS Phulia on Friday cancelled the mutation of 325-acre land in Chandimandir village after fraudulent conversion came to light in land record.

The land in Chandimandir village is costly as big real estate projects are coming up nearby. The cost of 325-acre land is around R600 crore.

Former tehsildar of Panchkula Vinod Sharma had converted the 325-acre panchayat deh into shamlat deh on May 28, 2012. A few months later the villagers approached Phulia for dividing their share in the 325 acre land.

Phulia inquired into the matter and referred it to the government.

The matter reached chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who suspended Sharma, who was posted in Ambala as land acquisition officer. His suspension order dated October 15 was sent to the Panchkula administration.

Ambala commissioner Neelam P Kasni then ordered for an inquiry report by Panchkula administration by October 24. After that on Friday, the DC cancelled the mutation.

The naib tehsildar had already refused for converting the panchayat deh into shamlat deh in August 2011. But despite that, without having any power, Sharma approved it in May 2012. He cited a letter dated September 22, 1961, of Haryana government as reason for his action.

“But Haryana was born in 1966 and he is quoting a letter of 1961. There have been number of notifications and clarifications after that and we have to obey the latest directions,” said Panchkula district revenue officer Naresh Kumar.

Sharma is likely to be chargesheeted under Rule 7 of Haryana civil service rules which invites punishments such as stopping of increment permanently, reversion and even dismissal.