Supreme Court Flags Defence Land Allotment Irregularities

The Supreme Court has raised serious concerns over irregularities in the allotment of defence lands to private entities, flagging possible collusion between defence estate officers and private parties. The bench, headed by Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, highlighted suspicious developments, including large-scale construction in cantonment areas.

During a hearing of a 2014 PIL filed by NGO Common Cause, the bench stated that prime properties had been leased or sold easily, despite their high value, due to collusion with local authorities. The court noted that influential individuals were able to acquire these properties through questionable means.

The Justices stressed the need for a comprehensive probe into these matters, suggesting a team comprising representatives from CAG, legal, and land revenue experts, to uncover the extent of the irregularities. ASG Aishwarya Bhati has been asked to deliver an updated status report on land record automation and related developments.

(With inputs from agencies.)