Himachal Pradesh Forms SIT to Probe Benami Land Deals Near Gaggal Airport Expansion

The Himachal Pradesh Government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe suspected benami land transactions involving non-residents, particularly in Una’s Gagret and Kangra’s Gaggal areas, where land acquisition is underway for airport expansion.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made the announcement during Question Hour in the Vidhan Sabha while responding to concerns raised by legislators.

Section 118 Safeguards Under Scrutiny

The issue gained traction after Gagret MLA Rakesh Kalia questioned the compensation disbursed for land acquired for the expansion of Gaggal Airport.

Sukhu reiterated that under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Land Reform and Tenancy Act, outsiders cannot purchase land in the state without prior government approval. He urged MLAs to provide documentary evidence of alleged illegal transactions, assuring the House that the Director General of Police would register FIRs and initiate criminal investigations wherever violations are found.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that any land found to be part of benami transactions would not be acquired for airport expansion or any other public project. He promised stringent action against those involved in illegal purchases or corruption.

Compensation and Allegations

The government has already disbursed Rs 1,460.09 crore as compensation to 4,649 beneficiaries under the Himachal Pradesh Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, for the Gaggal airport expansion.

However, allegations persist that certain individuals from Uttarakhand acquired land in violation of norms in Gagret. Kalia claimed that despite court cases and formal complaints, enforcement agencies had failed to act. He further alleged that some of these individuals were involved in attempts to destabilise the Congress government in the state.

Debate on Disability Posts

The Assembly also discussed the backlog in reserved government posts for persons with disabilities. Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil informed the House that recruitment drives are conducted twice annually, with categories earmarked for visually impaired, hearing impaired, low vision, locomotive disabilities and multiple disabilities.

He acknowledged that a shortage of eligible candidates has hindered the filling of vacancies and cautioned that relaxation of eligibility norms often leads to litigation.

So far, 101 posts have been filled, but legislators including Una MLA Satpal Singh Satti and Nachan MLA Vinod Kumar said that 1,459 posts remain vacant. They urged the government to adopt a more compassionate approach and set a fixed timeline for filling the backlog, criticising the administration for failing to adequately address concerns of disabled protesters demonstrating even in harsh winter conditions.

Vacant Government Buildings

In another disclosure, Sukhu revealed that nearly 600 government buildings are currently lying vacant. The government plans to relocate 30 boards and corporations currently operating from rented premises into these unused buildings to cut costs and improve administrative efficiency.

Key Takeaways

• Land and Legitimacy: The SIT probe signals stricter enforcement of Section 118 safeguards, particularly in high-value areas around airport expansion projects.
• Inclusion vs Litigation: With 1,459 disability-reserved posts vacant, the government faces the challenge of balancing compassionate recruitment with legal compliance.
• Public Assets, Private Rent: The existence of nearly 600 vacant government buildings raises concerns over fiscal prudence as multiple boards continue to function from rented spaces.

The developments reflect mounting political, legal and financial scrutiny over land, governance and public resource management in Himachal Pradesh.

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