Times
of India: Nagpur: Wednesday, 05 August 2015.
Though NIT
did nothing to reclaim two of its plots the Laxmi Nagar-based Scientific
Co-operative Housing Society had illegally sold off twice, an RTI activist dug
out documents to prove the civic body's ownership of the properties.
In April, TOI
had reported how the society, known for several other violations, had sold to
two builders two plots on RPTS road belonging to NIT. Shockingly, NIT was not
having any documents related to its own plots located at a prime location. In
fact, NIT also had no idea that society had sold off the two plots. The society
had executed agreement to sale with Decent Developers and Gandhi Builders on
October 20, 1996, and signed a sale deed on October 31, 2005.
"I
always pass through RPTS road and used to see two big vacant plots P-3 and P-4.
One day I saw some construction activity on one of them. I inquired about
ownership from nearby residents. I was shocked to know the plots were owned by
NIT. Then I submitted an application with the NIT under RTI Act seeking
documents about the two plots. This alerted the NIT that demolished the constructions
made by the builder on plot P-4," said RTI activist TH Naidu.
Yet, Naidu
did not get any document from the NIT. He said the civic agency had none. Then
he submitted another RTI application with the registration department and NMC
property tax department. The documents obtained from them exposed the society
and also NIT.
Society's
layout was sanctioned on February 22, 1952. The society at first legitimately
sold the two plots P-3 and P-4 to JP Behor, advocate, on April 6, 1955. NIT
then purchased the two plots from Behor for widening of RPTS road on January 8,
1964. As is usual with NIT, it did not ensure mutation of the two plots in its
name with city survey and NMC property tax department. Behor remained owner on
paper for many years. Taking advantage of this, the society clandestinely got
the mutation of two plots done in its own name again. Later, it society sold
them illegally to two different builders.
"Documents
also show the society had published a list of owners of its plots in 1973. That
mentioned NIT as owner of two plots. Even NMC property tax department had
recorded NIT's ownership. I suspect nexus between the office bearers of society
and NIT officials," Naidu said. He added NIT might have left similar
valuable properties in a lot of other places either to be encroached upon or
sold illegally. "If I can obtain documents from different departments, why
can't NIT despite it being a government agency," he asked.
NIT officials
thanked Naidu for obtaining documents and assured to collect more evidence to
prove its ownership on the plots soon. Scientific Society's secretary Arvind
Gadhikar refused comment saying it was a very old issue and the transaction
having been done during tenure of other office bearers.
SCIENTIFIC
FRAUD
TIMELINE:
· February 22, 1952: NIT sanctions Laxmi Nagar layout and
executes agreement with society
· April 6, 1955: Society sells plots P-3 and P-4 to JP
Behor, advocate
· January 8, 1964: NIT purchases two plots from Behor for
road widening
· October 20, 1996: Society executes agreement to sale of
the two plots with two builders
· October 31, 2005: Society executes sale deed with two
builders