Shimla municipal corporation refuses to renew land lease with Army

SHIMLA: Stepping up its battle against the Army over the issue of reclaiming Annandale ground, the Shimla municipal corporation has refused to extend lease deed of 12 bigha of land adjoining the ground. The deed with the Army had expired way back in 1975.
After finding that the Army had deposited some money to renew the lease, the municipal commissioner has ordered to return the same and directed to start the process of reclaiming the land.While the issue of reclaiming the Annandale ground, spread over 121 bighas, has brought state government and the Army authorities at loggerheads, the decision of the municipal corporation not to renew the lease for the 12 bighas adjoining Annandale ground is being seen as a step to strengthen the government's claim over the ground.
According to sources in the civic body, the Army had taken the land on lease in 1955 for a period of 20 years but the lease was never renewed.
Municipal commissioner Dr M P Sood said, "Though the money was deposited in 1998, matter came to my notice only recently and I have ordered to return the amount."
Sood said that before accepting money, the status of the lease should have been checked. "When I got it verified, I was informed that lease had lapsed. Now, we are looking into the clauses of the agreement to proceed further," he said.
Hearing on Tuesday:
The court of divisional commissioner, Shimla, would hear the arbitration case on Tuesday. Shimla district administration last year invoked the clause 4 in the lease agreement which provides for arbitration and the arbitration petition was filed in the court of divisional commissioner, Shimla, on November 28, 2011. Annadale ground is with the Army since World War II. Lease deed between representatives of governor of Punjab and the President of the union of India was executed in 1958, with retrospective effect from 1955.