UP Governor asks CM to take action in IMT land case

Ghaziabad, May 20 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Monday granted permission to probe the land allotment to the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), claimed Municipal Councillor and RTI activist Rajendra Tyagi.

Showing the letter to the media here, Tyagi said, "Taking cognisance of my complaint for the CAG and the CBI investigation in the irregularities in the land allotment to the IMT, the Governor wrote a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on May 3 and asked him to take appropriate action in the case." 

"The Governor has also asked for the copy of the report regarding the action taken in the matter," he said.

Since the Governor as the Chancellor of the Chaudhary Charan Singh (CCS) University had set up a four-member panel for investigation into the case, he said. 

The IMT's papers are pledged with the CCS for permanent recognition and affiliation with the varsity, state and the University Grant Commission, said Tyagi.

Earlier, Tyagi and Ghaziabad Development Authority board member Himanshu Mittal had alleged the Lajpat Rai Educational College Society, which was allotted 54,049 square yards at a throw-away price of Rs 96,606 in 1968, used the land for a different purpose. 

The land was allotted for running a degree college for humanity and art subjects that was in existence in Sahibabad, but Society chairman Mahendra Nath set up a purely commercial institute, which was against rules for allotment of subsidised land, they alleged.

Late Mahendra Nath was father of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. 

Tyagi and Mittal also alleged to cover up, the society incorporated a new name in 1993, which was rejected. A new allotment process is needed as rates of subsidised land for a college to teach humanity and a management institute are different. 

Due to influence of "high political powers", the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) could not muster courage and regularised the allotment, they alleged. 

Alleging corruption, according to the RTI reply they received, they said 10,481 square yards in the middle of 54,049 square yards allotted to the institute was disputed and its cost was not added to the total. "This means the IMT is using this land free of cost," said Tyagi.

GDA's Chief Architect & Town Planner Ishtiyak Ahmad also said discrepancies were found in the land allotted to the IMT when a team verified it physically. 

The IMT, however, denied the allegations. "We have all the legal papers with us. Our building plan is approved by the GDA. Other micro-level irregularities, if found, will be rectified if we get any intimation from the authority," IMT Director Akash. K Bhattacharya said responding to allegations.