HC stays govt decision for lease of gauchar land

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat High Court has stayed industries and mines department's decision to lease gauchar land of Bhimdeval village in Junagadh district to Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd (GHCL). Gram panchayat of Bhimdeval has been contesting grant of lease of this disputed land to GHCL for last three decades. In 1976, a sarpanch and her husband allegedly got false documents drawn up to help state government departments to give the plot to GHCL.
Justice AS Dave has now directed deputy secretary of state rural development department to remain present before court on November 17 in connection with granting lease of 140-acre land for industrial purpose despite earlier orders by higher authorities barring the transaction.According to the panchayat, which has filed the petition through advocate Shakeel Qureshi, the then sarpanch, her husband and talati stole minutes of a meeting where panchayat had decided not to hand over gauchar land to the company.
They got fake documents made and presented bogus resolutions before industries and mining department, on basis of which land was leased to GHCL for next two decades. Villagers objected to the deal and a complaint was filed in Talala police station. Police found the original documents and government's decision to lease the land to GHCL was cancelled.