PIL in Rajasthan HC against land scam involving Gujarat governor

Jaipur, 10 September 2013

A PIL has been filed last week in the Rajasthan high court against illegal allotment of 45,326.02 sq m government land to Kisan Samuhik Krishi Sahakari Samiti Limited (KSKSSL). Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal is an executive member of KSKSSL since 1971. A PIL is against Jaipur Development Authority(JDA), Rajasthan government and Kisan Samuhik Krishi Sahakari Samiti Limited (KSKSSL).

The JDA allotted the aforesaid land in favour of the KSKSSL as 15% developed land in lieu of compensation for acquiring the land for Kardhani & Prithviraj Nagar Scheme of JDA. In fact, the land was to revert back to the government since the period of allotment expired and otherwise also it was utilized for agriculture purposes for which it was allotted to the Samiti.After getting the plots from JDA, the Samiti allotted the same to its 18 members including Kamla.

According to the petition draft, the land is worth more than Rs 500 crore and it is part of a plot measuring 218.3/4 acres (383 bigha 1 biswa) which was allotted to one Rajendra Singh and 15 others on behalf of the Better Farming Cooperative Society for 20 years vide allotment letter dated January 5, 1953 and after expiry of the said period it was automatically to be reverted to the state government. But the revenue department failed to take possession of the same and it was illegally allowed to be in the possession of the Samiti / its members and it was also allowed to be continued in the name of Samiti in the revenue records due to the political pressure and influence of Kamla, presently governor of Gujarat, who was revenue minister in Rajasthan.

The registrar of co-operative society, Jaipur, in its order dated May 2, 2012, already concluded that Kisan Samuhik Krishi Sahakari Samiti Limited (KSKSSL) has indulged in various illegal activities. The registrar also observed that Dr Kamla Benival, though she is governor of Gujarat, participated in the executive body meeting of the Samiti, signed the minutes book and passed various illegal resolutions, said the petitioner.

Vikas Kothari, who has filed the PIL, has prayed that the samiti and its members may be restrained from alienating, transferring, mortgaging, selling etc the land measuring 45326.20 sq m allotted to it by respondent JDA. Further, the samiti and its members may be restrained from raising any construction on the said land during the pendency of this PIL and state may be restrained from approving the building plans relating to the land in question.