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Delhi Govt., monitoring panel on collision course

Sujay Mehdudia

Over the issue of registration of GPA in unauthorised colonies

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government and the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee seem to be on a collision course over the issue of registration of General Power of Attorney (GPA) for properties in unauthorised colonies that have come up in the Capital either on government land or on vested Gram Sabha land.

The issue has also led to a spate of protests by the citizens' elected representatives who are demanding that a firm policy on this sensitive issue, that protects the interests of the common man, be drawn up immediately.

Highly placed sources said the Monitoring Committee had asked the Delhi Government not to register sale deeds under GPA in unauthorised colonies that have come up on Government land or vested Gram Sabha land. Some of the sub-registrars had even started following the instructions and were not registering properties bought or sold in certain unauthorised colonies of the Capital. This led to an uproar among the MLAs and other political leaders who are demanding that a formal policy announcement be made to clear the air.

`Illogical'

"I strongly protest any such move. The order for colonies on vested Gram Sabha land is illogical as owners manage to get their rights restored by going to court in a majority of the cases. It cannot be termed government land. For property situated on government land that has been sold and bought a number of times cannot be prevented from getting registered now. The Monitoring Committee has to understand the whole issue,'' said senior Congress MLA Mahabal Mishra voicing the sentiment of a large majority of legislators.

The Government too is not happy with the directions of the Monitoring Committee and has decided to charter its own course. Officials said a number of issues are involved in the whole matter that requires close consideration. For example, if the land has been acquired under Sections 4 and 6 of Delhi Land Acquisition Act and possession is not taken for two years, it would cease to be government land. If an unauthorised colony has come up on it, it cannot be termed government land. Similarly, if agricultural land that was turned to personal or commercial use without land use change resulting in revenue loss to the government was then vested in Gram Sabha under Section 81, it would also not be termed as government land as in a majority of cases, the owners were able to get the status of the land changed or restored, officials added.

There is already an administrative order that unauthorised colonies on such land should be treated at par with those on private land. Officials said that for the past two decades these properties had changed hands a number of times. "How can you prevent GPA registration of a property which has been registered a number of times in records? All these aspects need to be kept in mind and would be conveyed to the Monitoring Committee," said a senior official.

Asked about the matter, Development Minister Rajkumar Chauhan said it would be placed before the Cabinet soon and he was not in a position to say anything more on the issue.

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