The Virbhadra Singh led state government is setting up a commission to probe all the land deals that took place in the state during the BJP regime. The commission will also cover cases related to lands given to private universities, builders, Ramdev and real estate developers. Besides, it will also look into the misuse of the HP State Apartment Act and allowing builders to construct flats in the green belt near Shimla by the previous government.
In congress’ chargesheet against the BJP government, which was submitted to the President by the Congress in 2012, had highlighted the sale and transfer of land to outsiders and non-Himachalis by the previous government and as Virbhadra Singh had already clarified that Govt will probe its charges mentioned in the chargesheet against the previous Govt, it is likely that many cases will crop up against the key persons of previous Govt.
Previous Govt had also constituted one-man commission under Justice D P Sood, retired judge of Himachal Pradesh High Court to enquire into the issues relating to benami land transactions in the state since 2003 in 2011. In its report Commission had found 34 cases in it. However, Congress led Govt refused to act on its finding and directed all the deputy commissioners of the state not to initiate any follow-up action on the Commission report. Congress believes that the D.P Sood commission had only “targeted” those land deals which were executed during the Congress regime from 2003 to 2008 and it did not “touch” the land deals of the BJP regime.
Meanwhile, the government has so far not taken any decision on setting up special courts for the trial of corruption cases. However, the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate corruption cases is under consideration.
