Sukhpal Singh Khaira welcomes the decision of the High Court to appoint a Tribunal headed by Justice Retd. Kuldeep Singh, to probe illegal encroachment of forest, ‘shamlaat’ or any other govt. land in the state of Punjab.
Congress party welcomes the decision of the Hon’ble High Court to appoint Justice Retd. Kuldeep Singh to probe illegalities and encroachment on costly govt., forest and ‘Shamlat’ land on the periphery of Chandigarh as well as the entire state of Punjab.
Justice Retd. Kuldeep Singh is a man of impeccable integrity known for his honesty and firm decision making. Justice Singh has not only served the highest court of the land but has to his credit the recently concluded de-limitation of Parliamentary as well as assembly constituencies of the country.
Congress is of the firm opinion that with the appointment of Justice Retd. Kuldeep Singh, the issue of illegal encroachment by the powerful people hanging fire for the last many years would be taken to its logical conclusion.
As we are aware, more than 60 powerful politicians and bureaucrats including the Chief Minister and the DGP are in illegal possession of forest or panchayat land around Chandigarh. In order to hoodwink the High Court, the state govt. in its report submitted before the court had given a clean chit to the CM, DGP and many other VIP’s. Not satisfied with the report of the state govt. the High Court has ordered the setting up of the Justice Retd. Kuldeep Singh Tribunal.
Congress party also welcomes the bold decision of the Hon’ble High Court to expand the terms of reference of the Justice Kuldeep Singh Tribunal to include all illegal encroachments in the entire periphery surrounding Chandigarh and not merely 170 acres around the Kansal area. Gross violations of encroachment of costly govt. land have taken place on all sides of Chandigarh including the Zirakpur, Kharar and Mohali areas, therefore the powers of the tribunal will now include all violations not only on the periphery of the Union Territory but the whole of Punjab.
None including the CM, DGP on any other VIP should be spared for not only violating rules but they should also be held responsible for tempering with the ecology and environment of the city beautiful. All such costly govt. lands must be retrieved from the powerful people and they should be proceeded against under the relevant criminal sections of the IPC, demands the Congress party.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA
