MANOJa

“Not privileged, has no bearing on law and order which could prevent it from being disclosed,” says Lokayukta


The Delhi Lokayukta on Thursday allowed a request by the complainants in the unauthorised colonies scam case to have access to the inquiry report submitted before the Ombudsman by the Secretary (Revenue).

The complaint filed by former MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Arun Rai had alleged that provisional regularisation certificates had been issued to some non-existent colonies.

In response to a report sought by the Lokayukta, the Secretary (Revenue) had filed a report but demanded that it may be kept in a sealed cover.

Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin said Abhijit Bal, counsel for the complainant, had requested that the enquiry report, which had been kept in a sealed cover pending perusal by the forum, may be seen by them. Mr. Bal submitted that the request for the return of the report and its re-requisition though the Chief Secretary had already been declined by the Lokayukta.

Though the counsel for the Secretary Revenue urged that on account of “the serious nature of the inquiry”, it should be kept confidential, Justice Sarin said: “I find considerable merit in the plea of the complainant's counsel that the report is neither privileged nor does it have any bearing on foreign relations or law and order, etc., which could be urged in support of a plea for it not being disclosed.”

The Lokayukta said the enquiry had been ordered by the Delhi Government itself to unravel the truth and take corrective measures. The report was submitted on November 23, 2011 and it has already been over two months.

He said the provisional regularisation certificates that had been issued have been cancelled following this report. Therefore Justice Sarin held that “the disclosure of the report is in consonance with transparency in functioning which is conducive to efficiency and probity in governance. Such disclosure is in public interest. Besides, any citizen can seek the same under RTI Act.”

Holding that no fetter can be placed on the contents of the report coming into the knowledge of the parties, the Lokayukta said, “the report is directed to be placed in the court file and would be available for inspection to any of the parties.”



The Hindu : NATIONAL / NEW DELHI : Illegal colonies scam report in public domain now

MANOJa

New Delhi: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday said her government is treading “carefully yet expeditiously” while confirming amnesty given to 1,239 illegal colonies after a government probe found the process was ridden with fraud.
Newsline last Friday reported probe findings by Divisional Commissioner Vijay Dev that Urban Development officials broke rules in granting provisional the amnesty in 2008, and that the fraud called for a criminal probe.

Dikshit told Newsline on Monday, “I held a meeting with top officials of all the departments concerned and instructed them to verify eligibility of all the colonies before approving the final amnesty.”

Dikshit said she called the meeting to understand the findings of Divisional Commissioner’s report. “Officials have today told me that the amnesty for unauthorised colonies was only provisional,” she said.



Illegal colonies: Govt moves with caution