Capt demands probe into GNDU campus land row
Friday, 14/10/2011
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HC/2011/10/14/ArticleHtmls/Capt-demands-probe-into-GNDU-campus-land-row-14102011007012.shtml?Mode=1
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday charged the SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia -brother-in-law of eputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal -with “having a definite role“ behind Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) ice-chancellor AS Brar's affiavit in the high court withrawing the university's claim ver Rs 200 crore prime land in Basti Nau in Jalandhar.
In a press statement, the PPCC chief demanded a highevel probe into the circumtances under which the V-C ubmitted the affidavit. Amarinder said the Basti Nau campus of the GNDU was in possession of several acre prime land worth over Rs 200 crore.
The land sharks “allegedly patronised by Bikram Majithia“ had an eye on it and were claiming ownership, he said. “The so-called claimants lost the case in the lower and sessions court as they could not prove their ownership. When they appealed in the high court, the vice-chancellor submitted an affidavit saying the university had no rights over the land and was prepared to surrender it,“ the PPCC chief said. “Brar's predecessor SP Singh had resisted the pressure to withdraw university's claim over the land.“
The PPCC president pointed out that Brar should have taken the approval of the syndicate. “It is difficult to believe that the V-C acted on his own. It must be at the behest of Bikram Majithia,“ he alleged.
Amarinder said once the Congress comes to power, legal steps will be taken to ensure land is restored to the university, besides holding an inquiry into the matter. “The so-called owners had failed to establish their ownership of the land in the court. But all thanks to the V-C, they were offered the land on a platter,“ he said.
