High Court calls for list of Haryana officers allotted flats not meant for them

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 16

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today took cognisance of a case in which the then HCS officer (now IAS officer) actively participated in a decision-making process, entitling himself to the allotment of a super-deluxe category flat meant for employees’ organisations.

Calling for a complete list of HCS/IAS officers “who have been (such) beneficiaries/allottees”, the Bench asserted that such a decision apparently proceeded on the premise that the petitioner — IAS officer — was an employee of HUDA/HSVP.

“It also proceeds in a manner as if an IAS or HCS officer, merely upon becoming a member of an employees’ organisation, is entitled to such benefits in the nature of allotment of plots/flats and that too of the deluxe/super-deluxe category,” the Bench added.

For the purpose of list submission, the Bench of Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa and Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj set a week’s deadline. The Bench also suo motu issued a notice to the state of Haryana through its Chief Secretary, saying that “this was a matter which ought to elicit a response from the state government”. The matter came to the court’s notice after Yashendra Singh filed a petition assailing a letter dated April 13, vide which applications were invited for allotment of two super-deluxe flats in favour of retired/serving HSVP employees. Directions were also sought to implement a decision taken by the Haryana Urban Estate Town and Country Planning Employees Welfare Organisation (HEWO) in the governing body meeting held on January 8, 2018.

As the matter came up for hearing, his counsel prayed for the petition’s withdrawal. But the Bench asserted it was of the view that the matter required intervention. The petitioner was a serving member of the Indian Administrative Services (Haryana cadre). A perusal of the minutes of the meeting showed a supplementary agenda item was apparently taken up in the form of a “request from the officers of HUDA, Urban Estate and Town and Country Planning Department”.

The Bench also reproduced the “relevant extract” of the decision. Among other things, it said Yashendra Singh, HCS, Administrator, HUDA, Faridabad, stated he had given a representation time and again for upgradation of his membership from deluxe to super-deluxe category flat. The matter was examined by the governing body and it was decided that his membership may be upgraded on the availability of “very first surplus flat in super-deluxe category during re-planning, being a member of the governing body”.

The Bench asserted it was appalled at the modus operandi being adopted.

“We may further notice that the petitioner was himself a party to the proceedings on the relevant date i.e. January 8, 2018, and was instrumental in having such matter being taken up as a supplementary agenda item and an active participant in the decision-making process, entitling himself to allotment of a super-deluxe category flat on priority basis,” the Bench added.

Suo motu notice to state

Bench takes cognisance of a 2018 case in which the then HCS officer, who was part of decision-making process, entitled himself to a super-deluxe category flat meant for employees’ organisations