Jammu, May 17: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) J&K has registered a case against ex-Tehsildar Rajouri, former Patwari of Rehtal and others on corruption charges.
A spokesperson of ACB said that the Bureau registered a case FIR no 02/2024 at Police Station ACB Rajouri U/s 5(1) (d) r/w section 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006 and section 120-B RPC against Balwant Singh, former Tehsildar Rajouri (now retired), Tehsildar Rajouri (now retired), son of Shiv Ram, resident of Badhal tehsil Khwas of district Rajouri, at present Dogra Nagar of Durga Nagar Jammu; Muhammad Rafiq, ex-Patwari Rehtal (now Naib Tehsildar Kathua), son of Gulab Din, resident of Naghoon tehsil and district Rajouri; private beneficiaries viz., Kanwal Singh, son of Bihari Lal, resident of Choudhary Nar, tehsil Rajouri, Masood Anwar, son of Mir Hussain Gujjar, resident of Choudhary Nar tehsil of district Rajouri besides others.
“The case was registered on the outcome of verification conducted by ACB under a written complaint alleging therein that Balwant Singh, the then Tehsildar Rajouri, after conspiring with Kanwal Singh just for extraneous considerations and with malafide intention passed an order dated March 25, 2010 in mutation No 417 of village Rehtal, Rajouri whereby only Kanwal Singh was declared as tenant-at-will under Government Order No LB-06/C of 1958 leaving thereby other legal heirs or successors of late Brij Lal,” the spokesperson said.
He said that during verification, it surfaced that Balwant Singh and Muhammad Rafiq, the then Patwari illegally and arbitrarily transferred land in favour of beneficiaries by effecting entries in favour of them.
“The said revenue officers and officials recorded and attested mutation No. 417 under LB 06/C of 1958 and mutation No 419 under S-432 of 1966, both dated March 25, 2010, for land measuring 3 kanal under Khasra No 203; 1 Kanal 9 Marlas under Khasra No 204 and 19 Marlas under Khasra No 201, (total 5 Kanals and 8 Marlas) in favour of Kanwal Singh, thereby ignoring the right of Brij Lal, brother of Kanwal Singh,” the spokesperson said.
He said, “Similarly, mutation Nos 415/1 under LB-6/C of 1958 and 415/2 under S-432 of 1966, dated March 25, 2010, are also found to be recorded and attested in favour of one Masood Anwar for land measuring 5 marlas situated at Rehtal, in violation of conditions laid down. All such mutations including Mutation No 419 and mutation No. 415/2 so attested under S-432 of 1966 by which proprietary rights were given to beneficiaries, are found to be attested in violation of conditions laid down in Government Order Nos. LB-6/C & S-432, as the beneficiaries had not been in continuous possession of the said land since 1957-58 – a prerequisite condition for attestation of said mutations.”
As per the enquiry conducted, different entries in Parat Sarkar as well as Parat Patwar of mutation no 415/1 under LB-6/C of 1958 were found to be in contradiction to each other. As per standing order No 23-A (record of mutation), the serial numbers of mutation cases should be continuous for the whole term of settlement, but in the instant matter, serial numbers 415/1 & 415/2 were found to be given to these mutations, which was contrary to the said order.
“By acting in this manner, these revenue officers and officials, by abuse of their official positions and criminal conspiracy hatched among themselves as well as with beneficiaries conferred undue benefits upon them just for their pecuniary gains,” he said.
“These facts disclose the commission of offences punishable u/s 5(1)(d) r/w section 5(2) of J&K PC Act, Svt. 2006 and section 120-B RPC against the then revenue officers and officials namely Balwant Singh; and Muhammad Rafiq as well as beneficiaries namely Kanwal Singh (in respect of mutation No. 417 under LB-6/C & 419 under S-432) and Masood Anwar, son of Mir Hussain Gujjar, resident of Choudhary Nar tehsil and district Rajouri (in respect of mutation No 415/1 under LB-6/C & 415/2 under S-432) and others. Further investigation in the case is going on,” ACB spokesperson added.