The Allahabad High Court today asked the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh to file a "personal affidavit" explaining how land acquired for developing a bird sanctuary in a village in Ghaziabad was allotted to private builders for construction of residential complexes.
A division bench headed by Justice Arun Tandon passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Suleman Dabbas, who alleged that the land acquired by the state government for developing the sanctuary close to the banks of the Hindon river was later allotted to private builders, which tantamount to "fraud".
It was submitted by the state government's counsel that an enquiry had been ordered into the matter and based on its report, proper action will be taken.
However, the court asked the chief secretary to file his affidavit by the next date of hearing explaining, among other things, why the land not be returned to the owners or the gram sabha concerned.
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