M A I N   N E W S

HP targets Devi Lal’s ‘benami’ deal
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 28
Himachal Pradesh government has expedited proceedings against 121 cases of “benami” land deal, including one which , the prosecution claims, has been traced back to former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal in the Kullu-Manali area.

Although proceedings were initiated in May 1997, the hearing in the case is scheduled for August 30. The delay in the high-profile case pertaining to a hotel and a farm house was due to the lack of credible evidence so far, confided officials.

The 121 cases of benami land deals in Himachal involve several influential people, including businessmen and proceedings under Section 118 are pending at different stages in revenue courts.

Although there are thousands of benami land deals and properties raised, only 121 have been identified so far. Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, restricts the transfer of land in favour of a non-agriculturist and an outsider without permission of the state government.

Violation of Section 118 has been a major political issue in the state. The Congress during its rule from 2003 to 2007 had granted permission in 2068 cases while the BJP regime is said to have allowed Section 118 to be relaxed in favour of 1006 people.