Shimla: Law catching up with former legislators for having constructed built up properties on reserve forest lands said chief minister PK Dhumal was at the instance of the High Court and not an act of political vendetta as was being alleged.
Speaking to media persons, the chief minister said that it was in the 1990’s that MLA’s had got land allotted under HP Legislators Housing Society at Hiranagar, a city suburb.
After building houses, these former legislators applied for correction of records, when they realized that the construction had taken place on forest lands.
With the High Court monitoring all encroachment cases on forest lands and under directions from the court cases are being registered against violations having taken place all over the state.
Cases against these former legislators have also been registered in that context, said Dhumal.
The matter pertains to police having booked 5 former congress legislators for violations of the Forest Act. The former lawmakers caught up in the wrangle include Kashmir Singh (Bilaspur), Milkhi Ram Goma (Kangra), Natha Singh (Mandi) and two who have since died Hira Singh Pal and Dharam Pal from Solan.
Anonymous complaint against IAS housing colony
When quizzed about violations in a housing society of IAS’s officers at Panthaghati colony, Dhumal responded that somebody had made an anonymous complaint in the matter and normally such anonymous complaints are not entertained.
The anonymous complaint made to the chief justice of the High Court, with copies to the chief minister and several media organizations had alleged that serious violations had taken place in a housing society of IAS officers that consisted of 24 members.
The housing society had not only allegedly violated forest laws but several members had also allegedly sold of the cottages for huge profits, the complaint mentions.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
