New Delhi: The Delhi High court Wednesday
directed Kandla Port Trust to take appropriate action against
its official who allegedly leased its land to influential
people at a throw-away price without doing proper valuation.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah also
directed the KPT management to take back the land, the lease
of which has expired.
The court said if any one of holders are having possession
of the land despite expiry of their lease agreement then they
should be immediately removed from there.
During the proceedings, the court also slammed Central
Vigilance Commission for its slow probe in the entire matter.
"You (CVC) are not working... CVC cannot do anything. Your
report in it is worthless. You are supposed to be more
vigilant," the court said, adding they would pass an order
in it by next week.
The court also pulled up the CVC for taking eight months
to decide on the report filed by the vigilance officer of the
KPT regarding the alleged land deal.
Moreover, the court also directed CBI, which is probing
some of the land deals, to investigate independently in this
issue.
The court`s direction came over a petition filed by an
NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, alleging that over
16,000 acre belonging to the port was leased by KPT officials
to some people at throw-away prices without doing proper
valuation.
PTI
