Haryana officers spar over Vadra-DLF deal
Two top Haryana officers on Thursday sparred over cancellation of Robert Vadra-DLF land deal, with the Town and Country Planning head T.C. Gupta claiming there were “factual inaccuracies” in orders by Ashok Khemka who stood by his decision and said the aggrieved parties were free to move court.
Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who cancelled the sale deed of 3.5 acre of land to realty major DLF following a deal with Mr Vadra, said any aggrieved party — government or parties to the deal — could approach the High Court if they felt aggrieved with his recent order.
Mr Khemka met Haryana chief secretary P.K. Chaudhary here on Thursday for about 50 minutes — his first meeting after the recent controversy arising out of his order and his subsequent transfer from the post of director general of consolidation.
Earlier, Mr Gupta had taken on Mr Khemka, a 1991 batch IAS officer, saying his order cancelling the mutation of the land deal contained “factual inaccuracies” and had been passed in “total disregard of administrative propriety”.
In a strongly worded letter to state chief secretary P.K. Chaudhery on Wednesday, Mr Gupta, director general of Haryana’s Town and Country Planning Department, referred to “orders of director general, Consolidation of Land Holdings & Land Records-cum-inspector general of registration issued on October 15”.
Mr Gupta said the original copy of Mr Khemka’s order has still not been received by his Department, “even though the same has found its way to all newspapers/ electronic media”.
“In these orders, certain comments have unnecessarily been made against the working of this Department which are not only unfounded but totally uncalled for,” he said.
Talking to reporters after his meeting with the chief secretary, Mr Khemka said, “The talk with the CS is privileged communication. It cannot be disclosed to the media.”
“I have left the post of DG consolidation. If any party or government has any grievance following my order, the remedy for them lies is to approach the (Punjab and Haryana) High Court,” he said.
“I am satisfied with the meeting with the chief secretary,” Mr Khemka said.
Asked about the letter written by Mr Gupta slamming his actions, he said, “I am not aware about the letter. It was a diversionary tactic to divert from the issues raised.”
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