Punjab Congress on Sunday urged the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice to take suo motu cognizance of “blatant, wilful and politically-backed massive encroachment of thousands of acres of panchayats, hamlet and village common lands by powerful people”.
“Keeping in view the burning issue of public importance pertaining to encroachment of highly valued common lands, the Chief Justice is urged to intervene and take suo motu cognizance of the violations since most citizens are afraid to approach the court through public interest litigation,” stated the party spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
He also requested the Chief Justice to appoint Justice Kuldip Singh to investigate into the matter “as he has already done a lot of ground work to unearth the land mafia”.
Supporting his demand on the revelations made by a nationally known media house, the party maintained that it was “highly imperative for the law of the land to act against it”. “Since many higher ups such as MlA and former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, politicians, bureaucrats, senior police officers such as the state DGP Sumedh Saini are amongst the illegal encroachers, there is no ray of hope for any justice from the present SAD-BJP Government,” he said.
He maintained that Bibi Jagir Kaur “has illegitimately encroached upon 12 acres prime commercial land in Begowal (Kapurthala) worth Rs 100 crore, there has been no action against her despite a complaint pending with the lok Pal since August 2011. Similarly, Sumedh Saini has, through his influence, been able to get 32 kanals of gair-mumkin nadi (rivulet) mutated in his favor in Kansal village near Chandigarh, but no action has been taken against him”. Khaira pointed out that Justice (retd) Kuldip Singh Tribunal, appointed by HC had submitted two detailed interim reports running into 150 pages pertaining to illegal encroachments around Chandigarh’s periphery. “Due to political pressure, the said reports are gathering dust in the offices of Punjab Government,” he added.