JDA Land Grab Scandal: RTI Stonewalled, Public Assets at Risk

JDA Ignores RTI Requests Regarding Land Grabbing Scandal on Its Land at Paloura Amid Suspicions of Official Collusion and Public Outcry

•  JDA Ignores RTI Requests Regarding Land Grabbing Scandal on Its Land at Paloura Amid Suspicions of Official Collusion and Public Outcry.
• JDA faces accusations of collusion as it ignores RTI requests concerning a land grabbing scandal at Paloura, Jammu, raising suspicions of official misconduct.
• The JDA’s failure to respond to RTI inquiries amidst the scandal prompts public outcry and fuels suspicions of collusion between officials and land grabbers.
•  While land grabbers are earning crores through JDA land the department gets nothing. Will JDA take action now or remain a mute spectator?

Mohit Mehra

Jammu, April 14: The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) finds itself embroiled in a land-grabbing scandal, with serious allegations of land grabbing and official collusion at village Paloura, Jammu. This controversy, fuelled by JDA’s alarming silence on RTI requests and inaction against land grabbers, raises serious questions about transparency and accountability within the organization.
Concerns are mounting as an RTI application filed on January 23, 2024, addressed to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of JDA and duly received by JDA, seeking crucial information regarding land under various Khasra Nos. in Paloura was not only ignored but even the second application to the First Appellate Authority also remains unanswered to date.
The application sought to clarify JDA’s jurisdiction over the land, details of its acquisition, current possession status, and actions taken against encroachments, specifically referencing the cancellation of mutation No. 6249 under Khasra No. 985 by the District Collector/Deputy Commissioner Jammu on January 7, 2023.
The RTI application had asked the CPIO to provide the following information: (1) whether the land mentioned was falling under the jurisdiction of JDA or not, (2) if the land mentioned falls under its jurisdiction, then submit the details, (3) when were the aforementioned lands entered/transferred to JDA in the relevant records, (4) whether at present this land was under vacant physical possession of JDA or was being encroached upon by some land grabbers, (5) what action has JDA taken with regard to the order of the District Collector/Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, cancelling the mutation No. 6249 under Khasra No. 985 vide his order dated 07/01/2023, (6) provide the complete detail of the land along with respective Khasra Nos, measurement of land which is under the jurisdiction of JDA in the records but presently being encroached by land grabbers, and (7) provide the certified copies of all such documents as asked duly attested and authenticated by the concerned competent authority.
Despite the RTI Act mandating a response within 30 days, JDA remained silent. This forced the applicant to appeal to the First Appellate Authority on March 13, 2024. Shockingly, even after another 30 days, the appeal went unanswered, raising suspicions of a deliberate attempt to conceal information and shield individuals within JDA or the land grabbers themselves.
This deliberate disregard for the RTI Act raises serious concerns about a potential cover-up and possible collusion between officials and land grabbers. While land grabbers are earning crores through JDA land, the department gets nothing. Will JDA take action now or remain a mute spectator?
JDA must verify the credentials of its own employee and pinpoint who is involved in collusion and take strict action against him to set a precedent for the future.
It is worth mentioning here that numerous media reports have highlighted the illegal land-grabbing activities plaguing JDA land in Paloura. Despite the mounting evidence and public outcry, both the Vice Chairman (VC) of JDA and the administration have turned a blind eye, leaving public assets vulnerable and emboldening the encroachers.
The JDA’s blatant disregard for transparency and its inaction against the land-grabbing mafia have sparked outrage and raised crucial questions: Who within JDA is being shielded by this culture of secrecy? Who is responsible for allowing valuable JDA land to fall prey to land grabbers? Why are the authorities hesitant to take action against those responsible? And why is the administration reluctant to initiate a high-level investigation to safeguard public assets and hold the guilty accountable?
The public demands answers and immediate action. This web of silence and inaction only strengthens suspicions of a deliberate cover-up within JDA. A thorough and impartial investigation is crucial to expose the truth, bring the guilty to justice, and ensure the protection of public assets.