Court summons senior Gujarat officials in housing fraud

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Tuesday asked the state’s social justice and empowerment department secretary and Amreli district collector to appear before it in person on a petition alleging fraudulent allotment of houses meant for people below poverty line.

A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi observed that allotments made under the Pandit Deen Dayal Aawas Yojna were “not proper”. It noted that prima facie, it appeared that a number of people not below poverty line have been given houses and no steps have been taken by the authorities to get them vacated and give them to the rightful recipients.

“In spite of number of adjournments in the case, the authorities have failed to file the action taken report. We direct the secretary of social justice and empowerment department and district collector of Amreli to remain present in person before this court,” the court said.

The petitioner, Natwarlal Bhatia, filed a petition before the high court alleging irregularities in allotment of houses constructed for below poverty line people. He claimed that many of the houses under the scheme were allotted to the “rich people” whereas people living below poverty line were still suffering without shelter.

The next hearing is scheduled for Sep 27.