Land allotment to trust: Complaint against Karnataka CS Jadhav

BENGALURU: A social activist has written to the Governor seeking cancellation of sanctioning of Kharab ‘B’ land to a trust at throwaway price and called for a detailed probe into the matter. He also sought action against Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav and other senior officials, who have violated Supreme Court direction in the case.

Dinesh Kallahalli of the Nagarika Hakku Horata Samiti submitted a petition to the Governor on Tuesday in connection with the state government allotting a total of 5.07 acres of land (at survey numbers 72 and 78) at Devara Kaggalahalli village in Harohalli hobli of Kanakapura Taluk in Ramanagar district. The said land was allotted to Mahatma Gandhi Vidyapeeta Trust, run by Premachandra Sagar, former Congress MP and it was approved in a cabinet meeting on June 22.

“As per the state government circular, there is no provision to sanction Kharab ‘B’ lands to any organisation and such lands should be catagorised for special purposes and protected. Also, there is a Supreme Court direction that such lands have to be sanctioned only through public auction. But the state government violated the norm and sanctioned the land, worth around Rs 20 crore, for just
Rs 5 crore. This has raised suspicion that there was rampant corruption behind the act,” Kallahalli stated in his petition.

“Despite knowing about the Supreme Court direction, Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav has not informed the government about the SC direction and ensured that the land was sanctioned to the said trust. The then Principal Secretary of Revenue Department, Basavaraju, the then Tahsildar of Kanakapura, Hanumantharayappa, Treasury Inspector of Harohalli Hobli, Puttaraju and Village Accountant of Devara Kaggalahalli, Channegowda, have also played a vital role in the case. A detailed probe should be ordered into the matter,” Kallahalli alleged.