Plot allotments: Construction at 'alottees' risk, says HC

CHANDIGARH: Taking up the case pertaining to alleged irregularities and favouritism in the allotment of industrial plots in Panchkula by the Haryana government, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday ordered that any construction on the area would be at the "allottees' risk".
A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant passed these orders when the petitioner, who had challenged the allotments, informed the court that some allottees were constructing structures on the plots.Hearing this, the bench clarified that any such construction would be at the allottees' risk.
The matter reached the HC through a petition filed by Colonel (retd) S K Jain and others seeking orders to quash the allotments.
According to the petitioners, industrial plots in Panchkula worth crores have been allotted to benefit people close to Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at very low price. It was also argued that there is a huge difference in the market price of these plots and the rate of allotment.
Prominent beneficiaries of the scheme include Mona Beri, daughter-in-law of Hooda's officer on special duty (OSD) B R Beri. One Pardeep Kumar, son of Singh Ram, has been allotted an industrial plot of 496 square metre at Panchkula. Singh Ram is posted as a secretary to the chief minister. Renu Hooda, a resident of Sector 28A, Chandigarh, has been allotted a 1000 square metre industrial plot at Panchkula, who is stated to be a close family relative of Hooda.
One Aman Gupta, M/s Mohan Rice Mill, Hinori Road, Ladwa, Kurukshetra, has been allotted 496 square metre plot. Gupta is the son of Ramesh Gupta, a former Congress MLA from Thanesar.
One Lt Col O P Dahiya, stated to be relative of Haryana CM, has been allotted 1000 square metre industrial plot. These allotments were made on July 2, 2013 by the Haryana Urban Development Authority.