The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab Police to probe the involvement, if any, of any official of GMADA or other government office in carving out illegal colonies in Mohali in connivance with builders.

The directions have been passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Mahesh Grover in an ongoing public interest litigation (PIL).

Rupinder S Khosla, Additional Advocate General for Punjab, informed the court that the Punjab police have registered an FIR against Modern Planners Private Limited and its promoters on account of violation of statutory provisions of Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations Act, 1995. The FIR has been registered in the Kharar police station on November 7.

The complaint against has been filed for violation of the Punjab Regulation of Colonies Act, Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations Act and Punjab New Capital Control Act.

The investigation has been handed over to Kharar DSPSimrat Pal Singh. “Although the complaint does not specifically state so, yet it is implicit that the conduct of any officer of GMADA or any other non-statutory body in regard to commission of offences alleged; its promoters; dereliction of duty or receipt of any extraneous consideration; non-action shall also be probed by the investigating officer (IO),” the court ruled.

The High Court has directed the IO to examine whether the company has committed any violations as alleged or whether there are any government officers involved in the said case.

“The IO shall examine the entire issue in context of all relevant enactments and submit a detailed report,” the High Court observed.

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