Probe term ending, probe yet to begin

FORGET AN inquiry report. The one-man commission constituted post Vipul Khand plots allotment fiasco by the State Government to probe the allotment process, prevalent in the development authorities and UP Avas Evam Vikas Parishad (UPAVP), is yet to take off.

Following the controversy kicked off by ‘out-of-turn’ allotments of 28 prime plots in Vipul Khand of Gomti Nagar, the State Government had appointed a commission under Justice (retired) RH Zaidi on September 6, 2005 to inquire the plot allotment process in development authorities. Apart from the allotment procedure, Justice Zaidi was asked to browse through all residential plots allotted by development authorities and the UPAVP since 1975 and submit his report within six months.

But with just about a week to go before the Commission’s tenure comes to an end on March 5, Justice Zaidi is yet to make any headway in the inquiry thanks to the total lack of cooperation from development authorities and UPAVP. On February 22, Justice Zaidi wrote a letter to District Magistrate RN Tripathi after his reminders to development authorities and UPAVP to furnish relevant documents/records (see box) for the purpose of inquiry failed to evoke any response.

“I gave them (development authorities) opportunities twice vide orders dated 7/12/2005 and 17/12/2005, but they have not complied with the orders…The inaction on the part of authorities amounts to contempt but instead of taking action I am authorising you (DM) to recover all relevant files regarding allotment of residential plots from the office of LDA since 1975,” states the letter. A similar missive has been sent to other DM’s to summon all documents from the 23-odd development authorities in their respective jurisdiction.

And though the ball has been set rolling by the DM, who has asked his deputy ADM (land acquisition) SMA Rizvi to ensure compliance of the order and LDA Vice Chairman BB Singh, it is too little too late. The upshot: As is the custom with all such panel of inquiries, the State Government would have to extend the tenure of this Commission to enable it to complete its findings for whatever they are worth.