Abuse of Power: ACB’s Case Reveals Officials’ Conspiracy to Illegally Release Land Compensation
27-06-2023 : The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has taken action against several individuals involved in a corruption case in Jammu and Kashmir. The case revolves around the illegal release of compensation for land acquisition in the village of Gran, Reasi. The ACB has registered a case against Sudesh Kumar, the then Tehsildar Reasi, Mohd Qasim, the then Girdawar, Yash Pal, the then Patwari, and the beneficiaries under the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B RPC.
The beneficiaries involved in this case are Dalip Singh, Omkar Singh, Kishore Singh, Inder Singh, Balwant Singh, all sons of Amarnath, Pushpa Devi, wife of Pritam Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Ashwani Singh, Parshotam Singh, Rangeel Singh, all sons of Saroop Singh, Chanchla Devi, wife of Balbir Singh, Manju Devi, wife of Mohan Lal, Gandharab Singh, and Lehar Singh, both sons of Puspa Devi.
According to the ACB, a verification process was conducted against the then Additional Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, and others based on allegations of releasing incorrect compensation due to manipulated reports. The land in question, measuring 27 kanals and 6 marlas, was acquired for a dumping yard at T5-P-1 on the Katra Dharm section of the USBRL (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link) project. The ACB found that the compensation awarded to the beneficiaries was in violation of the Land Acquisition Act, Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, and the related instructions.
During the verification process, it was revealed that the land under acquisition did not belong to the individuals claiming compensation. Additionally, none of them had the right to receive compensation as they were not cultivating the land themselves in the relevant period. The compensation amount, totaling Rs 78,48,7507, was supposed to be credited to the government exchequer under the appropriate account. Instead, the then officers and officials involved in the case, in collusion with the private beneficiaries, disbursed the compensation illegally, violating the prescribed provisions.
It came to light that some of the beneficiaries had approached the High Court with their grievances, leading to the court directing them to seek redressal from the Tehsildar Reasi. Subsequently, the Tehsildar summoned the beneficiaries, and during the investigation, it was discovered that they were not the rightful claimants to the land compensation.
The actions of the then officers and officials involved in this case highlight the abuse of their positions and a criminal conspiracy to illegally disburse compensation. They violated the prescribed provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, Agrarian Reform Act, and circular instructions issued by the Revenue Department. Their actions resulted in wrongful gains for themselves as well as the beneficiaries involved.
