The misuse of Government land allotted to individuals or organisations in Odisha for a purpose is nothing new. But the involvement of bigwigs in cornering Government land for vested purpose had raised many eyebrows. Coming under pressure, the Government cancelled 17 out of 18 land leases given for the purpose of setting up clinics/hospitals.
Now the matter has come up at the Orissa High Court after the General Administration Department cancelled 17 leases.
The only exception was the land allotted to Dr Jyoti Routray which was not cancelled apparently at the behest her husband Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray.
One of the lessees, labella Electrolysis Clinic Adarshprava, Puri, (Plot No. A/116), has filed a writ petition before the High Court questioning the cancellation of its lease by the General Administration Department (GAD). The matter has gone to such an extent that the High Court has directed the GAD Special Secretary to appear personally on April 18 in connection with this case.
Going by the terms and conditions of the lease, particularly as per the Clause 2 (iv) of the registered lease deed, the lessee was to complete the construction of the building for the above purpose within 36 months. None of the leaseholders including the Minister’s wife had fulfilled the lease conditions.
In fact, the GAD is understood to have moved the Chief Minister for cancellation of the land leased out to Dr Routray way back on November 19 last year.
An official note categorically says, “The lessee (Dr Routray) in her representation dated July 29, 2015 has admitted that she is using the ground floor for charitable clinical purpose and first floor for residential purpose. On a reference, law Department has opined that charitable dispensary not registered under Orissa Clinical Establishment (Control and Regulation) Act, 1990, does not exist in the eye of law.”
Taking advantage of inaction by the Chief Minister, Dr Routray managed to obtain registration certificate from the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) for her so-called charitable dispensary, apparently due to her husband’s clout, officials opine.
A joint physical inspection by the officials of GA, Health and Family Welfare Department and CAG audit during 2014 reveals that both the land leases to labella Adarshdham, Puri, and Dr Jyoti Routray with plots No. A/116 & A/117, respectively, come under the category of misutilised list according to the Auditor General of India vide letter dated September 10, 2014.
In compliance to the orders of the High Court, the GA Department had prayed time twice on January 18 and February 9, 2016 and, finally, filed an affidavit on February 20 through its Director of Estates Ram Narayan Dash. The affidavit is nothing but suppression and misrepresentation of facts, officials point out.
The GAD in its affidavit has submitted the list of cancelled/determined leases but very subtly left out the land lease to Dr Routray allegedly in violation of the terms and conditions of the lease agreement.
Whether the GA Department will succeed to hide its gross mistake from the High Court’s notice is now a big question.