By Nageshwar Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, April 14, 2016 : Misuse of government land allotted to individuals or organizations in Odisha for a purpose is nothing new. But the involvement of bigwigs in cornering government land for vested purpose had raised many eyebrows and coming under pressure, the state government cancelled 17 out of 18 land leases given for the purpose of setting up clinic/hospital.

Now the matter has come up at the Odisha High Court after the General Administration Department cancelled 17 of 18 land leases given for the purpose of setting up clinic/hospital.
The only exception was the land allotted to Dr Jyoti Routray which was not cancelled apparently at the behest her husband all powerful revenue minister, Bijayshree, son of former chief minister, Nilamani Routray.

One of the lessees – Labella Electrolysis Clinic Adarshprava, Puri (Plot no A/116), has filed a writ petition before the Odisha High Court questioning the cancellation of its lease by the General Administration Department. The matter has gone to such an extent that High Court has directed the Special Secretary, GA to appear personally on Monday [18/04/2016] in connection with this case.

Going by the terms and conditions of the lease, particularly as per the clause 2 (iv) of the registered lease deed, the lessee was to complete the construction of the building for the above purpose within 36 months. None of the leaseholders including the minister’s wife had fulfilled by the lease conditions.

In fact, the GA Department is understood to have moved the chief minister for cancellation of land leased out to Dr Routray way back on November 19 last year.

An official note categorically says, “The lessee [Dr Jyoti Routray] in her representation dated July 29, 2015 has admitted that she is using the ground floor for charitable clinical purpose and 1st floor for residential purpose. On a reference, Law Department have opined that charitable dispensary not registered under Orissa Clinical Establishment [Control and Regulation] Act, 1990, does not exist in the eye of law”.

Taking advantage of inaction by the chief minister, Dr Routray managed to obtain registration certificate from Directorate of Medical Education and Training [DMET] for her so-called charitable dispensary, thanks to her husband’s clout, officials opined.

A joint physical inspection by the officials of GA, Health and Family Welfare department and CAG audit during 2014 reveals that both the land leases to Labella Adarshdham, Puri and Dr. Jyoti Routray with plot no. A/116 & A/117 respectively come under the category of mis-utilized list according to the Auditor General of India vide letter dated 10th September 2014.

In compliance to the orders of the High Court, the GA Department had prayed time twice (on 18/01/2016 & 09/02/2016) and finally filed affidavit on 20/02/2016 through its Director of Estates, Ram Narayan Dash. The affidavit is nothing but suppression and misrepresentation of facts, officials point out.

The GA department in affidavit has submitted the list of cancelled/determined leases but very subtly has left out the land lease given to Dr Routray and clear violation of the terms and conditions of the lease agreement.

Whether the GA Department will succeed to hide its gross mistake from the High Court’s notice is a multi-million rupee question.