BJP digs more in Vaghela cupboard

The state government has revoked yet another decision on land allotment by the erstwhile Shankarsinh Vaghela government. This time the decision in question concerns 11,000 square metres of land at Viramgam. The government says the land was allotted to a dead man.

Minister of state for home Haren Pandya said that the order to allot the land was made by the former RJP government in the name of Govind Mahipat Desai who had expired way back in 1993. Mr Pandya said the latest decision does not violate the model code of conduct imposed by the Election Commission.

Mr Pandya said the land worth Rs 3.5 crores belonged to the state government. Moreover, the applicant had made no representation or appeal for possession of the said land between 1960 and 1988, he said. "Since 1988, the applicant made a spate of appeals at various levels which was rejected by the revenue authorities and even the court. In 1992, the then ruling party had decided to allot the land to the applicant but a public interest litigation and the possible adverse high court decision had forced them to retract in 1993. The applicant, Govind Mahipat Desai, expired the same year." Mr Pandya said.

The minister said the RJP government, in total disregard of the past stands taken by the state government in the court, allotted the land to Desai on July 23, 1997. This, Mr Pandya said, was a "monumental blunder" as the person was no more at that time, The state government after a probe by secretary, land reforms, Sudha Achalia, revoked the order.

Earlier the state government had exposed a series of alleged scams of irregular allotment of land by the RJP government in Gandhina gar and Vasan.

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