HC contempt notice to top HUDA officials over land allotment

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday put chief administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and Gurugram, HUDA administrator, on contempt notice on a petition of Shikohpur, Gurugram, residents, whose land was sought to be acquired by HUDA for sector roads between Sectors 81 to 95 in the city.

The notice was issued by high court bench of justice Surya Kant and justice Sudip Ahluwalia and response is sought by April 20 on a petition of Janak Raj and others who had alleged that despite the court directions they were not being given alternative plots and ‘ineligible’ persons were being given plots on the basis of ‘pick and choose policy’. The process of land acquisition was initiated in 2010. The court was told that it was in 2013 that a high court bench ruled that petitioners could not be dispossessed and if they are then alternative plots be given to them as per the policy of the state government. The authorities approached Supreme Court, but it did not get any respite.

But when the petitioners went with representation to HUDA, their demand of allotting plots was not being acceded, despite court directions. But at the same time HUDA is allotting plots to general power of attorney (GPA) holders, who were not actual owners of the land, it was alleged. The court was told that plots have been allotted to ineligible 200 persons, but the petitioners who were holders of small plots, either doing dairying or had houses constructed, were facing harassment at the hands of the authorities.

Taking strong view on the submissions, the high court issued contempt notice to CA, HUDA and HUDA administrator, Gurugram. It has also directed HUDA to not to make allotments to GPA holders till further orders, the petitioners’ lawyer, Sandeep Sharma, said.